Residents won’t be bluffed by red tape

A number of Cudgewa North residents, concerned about the delays in rehabilitating the Bluff Falls tourism area following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, claim that Parks Victoria is not doing enough to get the recovery project underway.

They say that there has been a lack of communication about the works.

A six-person committee of local residents has been formed to progress the recovery project and the group is seeking the support of the community to get the tourism site re-opened.

The priority for the group is for Parks Victoria to designate project milestone completion dates against planned works and to establish effective and ongoing liaison with the community.

Another issue the group identified was that under the project plan disabled access to the Bluff Falls viewing area would be removed.

The major holdup with the project has been the approval of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) which is delaying the developnment of a formal plan.

“We have been advised that if this is approved within the next 60 to 90 days by the relevant Park Victoria branch in Melbourne, the works could be completed by the end of December this year,” said Cudgewa North property owner and committee member, Loren Murray.

“There really needs to be better communication about the plan.

“We understand that costing the proposed access route to the falls is underway but there is no guarantee that the works will include replacement of the viewing platform and footbridge.

“Also, the Bluff falls viewing area has always been accessible by the disabled so removing this is a big change and not for the better!

“It’s been three and a half years since the works were proposed. If this was a park of intrinsic value to Melbourne or Sydney it would be open already.

“We have contacted federal and state politicians and Parks Victoria about the issue as well as the Towong Shire Council.”

The lack of disabled access flies in the face of an initiative by Tourism North East which held a forum just last week about improving accessibility and inclusivity in the High Country.

“In the first instance, we need Parks Victoria to develop a comprehensive Community Communication Plan,” Ms Murray said.

“We are a small community and the park supports our local economy and is intrinsically important to our community and its sense of wellbeing.” For enquiries or to offer support contact Loren Murray via email at lorenmurray@creativeworksgroup.com. au or phone 0459 191 222.

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 15 June 2023.