The existing Grampians National Park Management Plan released in 2003 is over 15 years old. In that time bushfires and floods have impacted the landscape, as well as changes in visitor numbers and park use. Approaches to environmental and cultural heritage management have also evolved over this time.

It is therefore important that a new plan is created to address future management challenges, meet community expectations and deliver on the Victorian Government and Traditional Owner priorities.

The new plan will be a long-term legacy. This is a chance to be part of shaping and conserving the Gariwerd landscape for future generations.

The draft plan reflects the progress that has been made in better understanding the Gariwerd landscape since the 2003 management plan for the national park. Since 2003, bushfires and floods have impacted the landscape, there have been increases in visitor numbers and park use, and new approaches to environmental and cultural heritage management have evolved.

The ancient and enduring Aboriginal cultural heritage of the Grampians landscape is at the heart of plan, recognising the rights, aspirations and interests of Traditional Owners in managing their Country.

Notable proposals include:

• a Cultural Conservation Zone to protect areas where the highest cultural values are found
• the use of traditional cultural land management practices, including cultural burning
• the renaming of places to recognise the landscape’s cultural heritage
• designating climbing areas, so that climbing can continue while protecting the landscape’ special values
• new management overlays to minimise noise and light pollution in certain areas
• the creation of more designated campsites and the restriction of dispersed camping
• the restoration of locally extinct and culturally significant wildlife, such as the dingo.

There are several nearby parks and reserves to the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park that share rich natural and Aboriginal cultural heritage values and that have similar issues and opportunities.

Planning for entire landscapes rather than individual parks is accepted as a best-practice approach to land management.

The plan was developed with Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, and Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.

In the early stage of the plan development there was an extensive process where over 400 community members contributed their ideas and feedback, including 270 people attending workshops. In addition, a Stakeholder Reference Group was established with 15 key stakeholders who have met regularly over the development of the plan.
A rock climbing roundtable has been convened five times in 2019 and 2020

For more than 22,000 years, Gariwerd has been the living, hunting, gathering, cultivating, ceremonial, Dreaming Country and territory for Traditional Owners.

The draft plan recognises that all parts of Gariwerd have cultural meanings and associated values for Traditional Owners – the land, its waters, skies, the plants and animals.

The plan outlines ways to work with Traditional Owners to understand, protect, celebrate and share this incredible cultural landscape.

The Gariwerd landscape contains unique and varied ecosystems and is the largest water catchment for the region, enriching the environment and supplying water to nearby towns.

The draft management plan proposes strategies to protect and restore this precious natural environment, particularly amid climate change and increasingly severe bushfires and floods.

The strategies focus on healthy ecosystems, fire management, water management and climate change.

The draft management plan recognises that recreation and time in nature delivers many physical, mental, spiritual, social and economic benefits.

Parks Victoria and Gariwerd Traditional Owners encourage healthy recreation where it is not at odds with legislation, or the protection of cultural and natural values.

To ensure the continuation of sustainable recreation, the draft plan designates areas where some recreation can sustainably take place.

Parks Victoria supports sustainable nature-based tourism that benefits local businesses, communities and economies.

The plan recognises that the local economy derives great benefit from tourism and looks at how to support that while protecting the very values that attract people to the area.

The soon-to-be constructed Grampians Peaks Trail will be a key drawcard with benefits beyond the trail itself. The GPT is expected to generate more than $6 million of economic benefit and tourism development opportunities for the region by 2025.

Parks Victoria will continue working with key tourism organisations, including Grampians Tourism and Visit Victoria, to promote sustainable visitation to the area.

Parks Victoria will continue to work other agencies, Traditional Owners and the community on strategic bushfire management. This includes working with Traditional Owners, DELWP and CFA on the design and implementation of the Joint Fuel Management Plan. The plan also proposes the reintroduction of cultural fire practices and collaborating with Traditional Owner corporations for fire management.

Fuel management will target the protection of human life, ecological, cultural and infrastructure assets, based on identified risk mitigation needs.

Public feedback on the draft management plan is being sought between 11 November 2020 and 24 January 2021.

To gather feedback, Parks Victoria will be holding workshops and information sessions. Subject to public health directions, most public engagement is expected to be online.

All feedback will be considered in the development of the final management plan.