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General News

13 August, 2025

Recovery continues at Mount Buangor State Park

RECOVERY works at Mount Buangor State Park are nearing completion following the devastating 2024 bushfires, with another popular site to reopen in spring.

By Publisher Craig Wilson

Ripon MP Martha Haylett joined other stake holders at Fern Tree Campground on Tuesday to inspect work to restore the popular attraction. Pictured are (front row) Joel Chadwick (Mid West Tourism), David Petty (District Manager, Parks Victoria), Martha Haylett MP, Ray Davies (Pyrenees Shire) along with (back row) Siobhan Rogan (Parks Victoria), Gordon Robson (Parks Victoria), Alana Burge (Pyrenees Shire) and Kyra Winduss (Parks Victoria). Photo by Craig Wilson.
Ripon MP Martha Haylett joined other stake holders at Fern Tree Campground on Tuesday to inspect work to restore the popular attraction. Pictured are (front row) Joel Chadwick (Mid West Tourism), David Petty (District Manager, Parks Victoria), Martha Haylett MP, Ray Davies (Pyrenees Shire) along with (back row) Siobhan Rogan (Parks Victoria), Gordon Robson (Parks Victoria), Alana Burge (Pyrenees Shire) and Kyra Winduss (Parks Victoria). Photo by Craig Wilson.

Roads, visitor areas and tracks, including the popular Beeripmo Track, have reopened, while other areas like the Fern Tree Campground are set to welcome campers back in late spring.

Further works will be rolled out in a staged approach, including the reopening of the Middle Creek Campground.

The Mount Buangor State Park, which features forests, creeks and waterfalls loved by hikers and campers alike, was badly impacted by a major bushfire in February 2024 that destroyed most of the visitor facilities.

A storm that followed shortly after also caused erosion and damage to more of the park’s infrastructure.

Since then, a comprehensive recovery effort led by Parks Victoria and DEECA has been underway to rebuild and reopen the campsites, tracks, roads and other visitor facilities in the state park and neighbouring Mount Cole State Forest.

Debris and dangerous burned trees have been removed, while signage has been replaced, stairs and boardwalks rebuilt, and road and track surfaces made safe.

Most recently, Dairy Maid Road, which provides access to Mount Buangor and Mount Cole, reopened following resurfacing works.

Work on the Ferntree Waterfall Road is planned for the next few months.

Work to restore the walking track between the popular Ferntree Waterfall and the nearby day visitor area is expected to be completed in August.

Member for Ripon Martha Haylett joined Park Victoria staff and representatives from Pyrenees Shire and Mid West Tourism at Fern Tree Campground this week to inspect the clean up first hand.

“The area will open gradually, so at first it will be more for day trips. So camping and staying overnight will still take a bit of time but we want people to come in and enjoy it and experience and see the area for the first time since the fires,” she said.

Joel Chadwick from Tourism Mid West said It will be great to get visitors back to the area.

“It gives visitors the opportunity to get back into the region and giving them an opportunity to get back in touch with nature as well,” he said.

Read More: Ararat, Buangor

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