Vol. 19 No. 21
FREE PUBLICATION
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Australian Editorial Award 2016
$1.7m falls overhaul for review W
BY DEAN LAWSON
ork on an estimated $1.7-million Mackenzie Falls redevelopment project at ‘Cranage’s’ in the Grampians is scheduled to start in autumn next year.
Grampians National Park ranger in charge David Roberts confirmed a landscape design for the project, which includes a major overhaul of a popular tourist area ravaged by a 2014 bushfire, would be out for public comment this week. He said the plans were designed to enhance tourist experiences at the falls, which represented the single busiest site in the national park. “In terms of visitors and bucket lists it’s the one place that people always want to visit in the Grampians,” Mr Roberts said. Cranage’s, providing an access point from the top to the base of the falls, has long been a popular destination for international, interstate and Victorian tourists, day-trippers and picnickers. The falls can be spectacular, especially after wet winters and spring, and this year has been no exception. In 2014, a massive northern Grampians bushfire which spread through Wartook and Laharum districts and spread north into St Helens Plains, as well as deep in the national park, razed buildings and damaged walkingtrack and lookout infrastructure at Cranage’s. Despite the damage, Parks Victoria staff managed to re-open the falls within two months. The fire also devastated the bushland environment, which has since bounced back strongly.
IN THIS ISSUE
Mr Roberts said the redevelopment project area covered between four and five hectares and progress would be staged depending on the availability of funding. “Instead of simply putting it back how it was, we’re setting it up for future visitation and use of the site to make the most of the waterfall area,” he said. “One of the key things we have learned from visitors is a need for interpretative information and what we are planning is a much more intuitive walking-path network, allowing people through and around the site much easier. “There will be a whole new layout, a new car park and a doubling of car-park spaces.” Mr Roberts said bushfire experiences had led planning away from creating bricks and mortar-style commercial buildings. “What we’re gearing for instead is for there to be commercial opportunities of the ‘popup’ variety such as mobile coffee vans, where people can bring in business on a seasonal basis,” he said. “This would also provide entrepreneurs with flexibility.” Mr Roberts said development details would be available in visitor information centres at Halls Gap, Ararat, Stawell and Horsham and on the national park’s website. Popularity at Cranage’s gained momentum from 1927 when district resident James Cranage opened holiday homes and a kiosk at the site. Cranage designed, constructed and installed a hydro-electric plant from the falls to power the cottages as well as a water-supply system.
PICTURE OF CONCENTRATION: Level-one Natimuk and District Gymnastic Club gymnast Edward Jones competes on parallel bars at the club’s invitational competition at the weekend. The club hosted 300 gymnasts from across the state and South Australia over two days of keenly contested women’s and men’s events. The Natimuk club will wind up its year with a display and presentation evening on December 7.
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