Danger running deep on loop around The Granites

A LODDON nature tourism destination has been left waiting for repairs.

Boort’s Paul Haw said the road looping to the peak of Mount Egbert had been severely scoured by rains last October.

Mr Haw said the lack of safety warning signs could see vehicles damaged trying to reach the peak near Borung and known as The Granites in Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve.

“On the way home we drove to Mt Egbert, this is a very popular spot for tourists to walk amongst the boulders and a popular picnic spot especially for people from Boort,” he said.

“The last kilometre to the top of the mount is impossible to navigate in the average car.

“The washouts get worse as you go up the mount.

“Tourist will be unable to go to the mount ... Parks Victoria have not erected any warning signs of the danger.”

Parks Victoria said: ““The road to Mount Egbert in the Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve is damaged in places but not closed as it remains passable and there are safe locations to turn around.

“We’ve focused on re-opening closed parks like Kooyoora before looking at repairs to the road, but the damage has been recorded and will be repaired when insurance funding is available.

“We will put some warning signs up at the entrance to Granite Creek Road.”

Concerns for the state of Mount Egbert comes as Parks Victoria re-opened parts of Kooyoora State Park before the March long weekend.

A Parks Victoria spokesperson said some of the roads in the park remained closed, however visitors were able to access the main lookout, campground and picnic area.

Researcher unveils indigenous land movement work

LA TROBE university associate professor Jennifer Jones will unveil her study of the movement of indigenous Australians across the Loddon Plains since the 19th century gold rush.

Dr Jones will be the key speaker at a Pyramid Hill Historical Society event next Friday.

Society secretary Cheryl McKinnon said Dr Jones’ research project had examined the early impact of the gold rush and pastoral settlement on Barapa land “as a means to trace the life history of an apical Djaara woman, Emma Kerr”.

She said Dr Jones would share findings “on the movement of First Nations people across the Loddon Plains following the gold rush and land settlement” and give “a unique insight into our indigenous history”.

Dr Jones is associate professor in inter-disciplinary studies and history program co-ordi-