Expression of Interest** Far East Gippsland Seasonal Gate Closure with Parks Victoria
Date and time: 9:00am, Saturday 13th June to 4:00pm Sunday 14th June
Trip Standard: Medium with possible Hard Sections
Description: Your expression of interest does not guarantee your inclusion on this trip. You must have previously attended the annual Far East Gippsland Track Clearing to attend this trip. EOI registration will close at the end of May and the Trip Leader will contact you about your inclusion.
Built out of the Club’s annual Track Clearing weekend, Parks Victoria have sought assistance with the closing of the seasonal closure gates in the Snowy River, Alpine and Errinundra National Parks. Resourcing for Parks in the area is tight so the Club's volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated.
We are seeking members with track clearing experience to work in small teams with the Parks staff to close all gates in the Bendoc Parks office’s area of responsibility.
Participants can expect a full day of closing gates on Saturday with a half day on Sunday. It is a fast paced trip as we need to close all gates in a park in a single day. It will likely be a busy weekend of work but experience says that it's always a great weekend away.
Pending final plans from Parks, members need to be prepared to be mobile and camp out on the track. At this stage, swags or tents only. The meeting point will be in Bendoc or the Deddick Valley area but is TBA pending final plans. Members need to be ready to for an 8am briefing on Saturday morning. Arrival on Friday afternoon or evening is strongly recommended. Further details on camping arrangements and meeting places will be provided to participants in the week or two prior to the trip.
If plans allow for participants to be in Bendoc for Saturday night, we will organise dinner at the Pub for anybody interested. The Bendoc Pub was reopened a few years ago and it's become a real hub for the community. Great atmosphere and the meals are great. The parma is plate sized.
There are prerequisites that we must adhere to. Participants must
- Have completed their proficiency training;
- Have a current WWCC (working with children check);
- Hold chainsaw certification and use full PPE if operating a chainsaw; and
- Have attended the Club's track clearing or track opening trip previously.
- Last fuel is at Buchan, Orbost or Delegate, NSW (limited availability).
Participants need to be prepared for all conditions. Be prepared for cold and wet conditions and bring all your food, water, camping and cooking gear for the weekend. We are camping in an alpine environment, it may snow (it snowed last year). This event is being run by the Pajero 4WD Club and the LROCV and the Melbourne 4WD Club (previously the Range Rover Club of Victoria) have been invited to attend.
Be prepared to camp on track if tracks are heavily blocked or the plans require it (not likely but be prepared). You will need to responsible for all your food – dinner, breakfasts, lunches, drinks, water and snacks. The terrain we are travelling through will include rainforest and high-altitude areas you will need to be prepared for wet and cold weather for both clothing and camping.
No pets or guns.
Weather: Most of the weekend will be in Alpine areas so expect cold and wet conditions. It has snowed on previous occasions.
Equipment: Snatch strap, shovel, winch preferred, All Terrain tyres, UHF in car. Good off-road tyres (All Terrain, 60 profile recommended as a minimum), UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club), a well-maintained vehicle with low range (or equivalent), good ground clearance (200mm recommended as a minimum), recovery points, standard recovery gear including dampener, rated snatch strap and shackles, shovel. Drivers must have completed the RRCV club training or equivalent.
Additional Equipment required: First Aid Kit. Leather gloves. Clothing including boots, hats and clothing suitable to cold and wet conditions. Camping and cooking gear suitable for cold and wet conditions. Camping gear food and drinking water for 2 days / 1 night in the bush. Morning tea and lunches will be in the bush each day – byo simple, “on the move” lunches and morning teas (byo thermos).
Maps and Reference Material: Rooftop Maps, Snowy River, McKillops Bridge, Lakes Entrance and Cann River, Orbost, Delegate
Fuel: A full tank from your last fuel. Last fuel is at Buchan, Orbost or Delegate, NSW (limited availability)
Distance: Approx 250kms on forest roads and bush tracks.
Duration: 2 days
Convoy limit: 3 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: To be advised but in the Bendoc/Deddick area. We will aim to finish about 4.00pm on Sunday.
Club Guest Registration policy: It is club policy in regard to insurance cover that if a member brings any non-members on the trip they must be registered and have paid the required fee as Temporary Members BEFORE the event. i.e. non-members can no longer register on the day with the trip leader.
Temporary Membership information and ways to register can be found at: Temporary (Guest) Membership
Also if a non-member wishes to bring their own vehicle, the member inviting the non-member must contact the trip leader for approval to bring the vehicle. Such approval will take into account skills of the driver, suitability of the vehicle and whether or not a place within the convoy limit is available for a non-member's vehicle.
Trip Leaders: John and Prue Hasler (0439 890 688)
Melbourne 4WD Club