A concrete barrier blocks off access to Barmah National Park on Rice’s Bridge.
Businesses and recreational users of Barmah National Park are anxiously awaiting the reopening of the park after the October floods.
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Some people are concerned the park will not be open in time for the usual influx of Easter campers.
Barmah Hotel licensee Matt Giesing said his business was down between 60 and 70 per cent.
“We’re right on the edge of the bush here, but no-one is camping,” he said.
“We usually get people coming for meals, buying ice and a few beers.”
Mr Giesing’s biggest concern is the lack of notice of what is happening.
“It would be easier if we knew what was going to happen because we have to order in advance.”
Barmah Roadhouse manager Dino Babu said Easter was busier than Christmas time so he was hoping the park would reopen soon.
Multiple entrances are locked at Barmah National Park.
He said the roadhouse supplied takeaway food, groceries, fishing supplies, petrol and diesel.
“It’s been very quiet since November.”
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has written to Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio urging a speedy reopening of the park.
Ms Lovell said while the closure was understandable due to the need to ensure tracks had dried and the forest was safe for tourists to return, the extended closure was having a devastating effect on the local economy with businesses suffering a severe downturn in turnover compared to a normal summer period.
Barmah National Park.
She said state governments had promised when the national park was created there would be tourism opportunities to replace the forestry industries.
“A closed park does not provide the tourism we need to drive our local economy,” Ms Lovell told the minister.
“Locals residents are aware that a safety inspection of the vast majority of the national park covering the area spanning from Gulf Track to Ulupna Island has been completed.
“I am advised that the report on this section has been forwarded to Melbourne for the sign-off to reopen the park.”
In recent years Parks Victoria has stopped horse trail rides within the park and the Kingfisher guided boat tours of the Barmah Choke have ceased.
Parks Victoria reopened some visitor areas within Barmah National Park from January 26, however toilets, picnic areas, access roads and other facilities were damaged by flooding and the department said it was working to reopen these areas as soon as possible.
Parks Victoria said closures were necessary while assessments and works were undertaken to remove risks and repair damage before reopening for visitors.
The department could not give a reopening time and could not confirm that assessments had been completed.
Barmah Forest Preservation League president Peter Newman said while Parks Victoria was responding to damage caused by the floods, he pointed out Barmah regularly floods and forest users were accustomed to working around issues caused by flooding.
“Barmah floods three years out of five, so flooding is normal in the forest,” Mr Newman said.
“I’m told it looks absolutely fantastic. The forest has recovered really well.
“But the closure is having a real impact on places like Barmah, Picola, Nathalia and Strathmerton.
“And local businesses need to know what is happening so they can plan.”
Intending visitors should first check on what is open, at the Parks Victoria website: www.parks.vic.gov.au
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