Facilitator for the day was Geoff Penna who managed to bring the members together to reach a consensus on the future direction for the Friends of Mt Cole and the Pyrenees Ranges.

Around 60 members from across Beaufort and Avoca through to Ararat and beyond discussed ideas on how they believe these forests could be better managed.

Group president Shane Molloy opened the forum and thanked all for sharing their time and encouraged everyone to contribute as many ideas as possible.

The Friends of Mt Cole and the Pyrenees Ranges committee is currently working with Member for Ripon Joe Helper and the Department of Sustainability and Environment with the aim of becoming a community reference group to oversee the management of these forests and the management priorities formulated on the day will be used as a template to achieve this.

Management priorities for Mount Cole and the Pyrenees ranges formulated on the day include:

Fire management; Jobs - timber industry, firewood collection, tourism, apiarist sites, local DSE; Recreation - community awareness, community benefits, camping areas, signage, tourism education, code of conduct, historical sites; Open/maintain roads and water points; Vermin/weed management - pigs, goats, cats, foxes, rabbits blackberries; Armillaria - control of; Maintain as a multi use forest.