Year: 2021

Reminder of a change to the Heysen Trail in the former Bundaleer Forest.

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We remind walkers that, as previously announced, there have been a series of changes to the Heysen Trail in the vicinity of Curnows Hut and the former Bundaleer Forest.

In the ‘Heysen Trail reopens on Saturday May 1st 2021‘ news item, we referred to a number of  re-routes along the trail.

One of those, Item 3 Bundaleer, advised a change of the route in April 2021 to follow the Bundaleer Greenway. That re-route considerably lengthened the trail.

On 30 June 2021 we updated the news item to say that the Department of Environment and Water had reversed that re-route.

As a result the original trail between Curnows Hut and New Campbell Hill has been reinstated.

This is a significant change to the trail between Curnows Hut and Raeville. That walk, shown as Section 35 of the Heysen Trail Walk Selector, returns to 20 kms.

Any reference to the change of the trail to follow the Bundaleer Greenway was removed from our website Re-route page in June.

August edition of the Trailwalker

The upcoming August edition of the Trailwalker magazine, contains an article ‘Heysen Trail Route News’.

The article on page 7 includes an item headed ‘Bundaleer Forest’. The item describes the April 2021 change to follow the Greenway.

That article was written prior to the 30 June reinstatement of the original route.

In order to eliminate any confusion, we confirm that the Heysen Trail again follows the route as shown on the Heysen Trail Mapsheet 5A & the Northern Guidebook Map 1.4.

That is also the route shown on the Heysen Trail GPX file 16/2/2021 v4.0 and the corresponding version of the Heysen Trail Interactive Map.

Vale Cliff Walsh

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Cliff – Change Agent

Cliff will not be well known to most Friends Members, however he played a pivotal role in the organisation’s resurgence in the early 2000s.

He realised the financial survival of the Friends depended on left over grant money that accrued interest, in the days when investments did that. And that was not very much. At that time, the Friends’ council dealt with the entire management process and Cliff thought that streamlining the various processes, using the committee structure, would benefit the organisation. Consequently, subcommittees of the Friends, i.e., Walking, Membership and Marketing, Financial and Trail Maintenance could focus on their tasks, improving efficiency. This, plus a dynamic council, could concentrate on increasing membership, revitalising the walking programme and generating yearly surpluses that could be churned back into the Trail though the Maintenance Committee. As a result, this lead to a massive increase in membership, doubling in 2 years, and to some extent, the End 2 End programme.

Apart from his association with the Friends, he was the economics professor at the University of South Australia, economics advisor to Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, introducing him to Grange, amongst his various achievements. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Tributes

“Sharp, focused, and unstoppable. Great Council member, and always there when needed. Didn’t stop even when very ill. Formidable. Vale Cliff. Well remembered.”
Simon Cameron

“Great intellect – set the Friends on a path to create the large, successful organisation we have today. Vale Cliff.”
Robert Alcock

Constitution Review – Member Information Sessions

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Friends of Heysen – Constitution Review – Member Information Session

FOHT Council has decided to review our 35 year old Constitution to modernise and refresh it to meet our current needs. Council is undertaking consultation with committees and members to help build a framework for the next 35 years.

Why?

The Constitution outlines the rules for how the Friends manages the finances, policies and priorities for our activities: walks program, trail development, office and promotion.  Council members think it is a good opportunity to revitalise how we manage the Friends and encourage newer members to become more involved.

Interested members are invited to an information session that will outline key proposals, answer questions and obtain feedback from members.

Members will need to register via the Friends Walk/Event on-line system as numbers will be capped and usual COVID requirements apply.  A draft document will be available.

Council will consider any feedback and issues raised before seeking legal advice on the provisions and any formal process.

The current Constitution requires that proposed changes be presented at a special Meeting of Members or Annual General Meeting.

Keep fruit fly free on your walks !!

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Attention Heysen Trail Walkers.

Walkers need to be aware that due to the fruit fly problem in metropolitan Adelaide, there are severe penalties for moving potentially affected fruit from one region to another unaffected region.

Please check which region (green, orange or red) you live in, and act accordingly, after viewing the regulations on the SA Govt. fruit fly web site

Only take raw fruit in your lunch boxes if you bought it in a green zone.

For your information the advice from the Department is that:

  • We should check the prescribed list of excluded fruit and veges (includes such items as bananas, citrus, blue berries and apples) and not bring them if we are taking them from a red or orange zone. There are processes that can be instigated to render the banned fruits safe, including preparing them cooked, dried, grated, pureed and packaged/processed. Cut, sliced  or mashed F&V are still at risk for fruit fly and should be excluded from transporting with you.
  • We can purchase our requirements in the green zones.
  • To be doubly safe retain your itemised receipt from the point of purchase so that there is no doubt about the source of your food.

Heysen Trail closure near the Buckaringa Sanctuary, Thursday 3rd June to Tuesday 8th June 2021.

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The Buckaringa Sanctuary will be temporarily closed early in June. As the Heysen Trail passes close to the sanctuary, we advise walkers to consider the closure if planning to walk in the area.

The planned closure is:

  • Thursday evening 3rd June to Tuesday morning 8th June 2021.

 

The sanctuary is home to many Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies and is located between Quorn and Hawker. You can find it on map 6, chapter 4, of the Heysen Trail Northern Guidebook and on Sheet Map 7b – Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park to Mernmerna Creek.

The closure is because the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) will be undertaking feral animal control in the sanctuary.

AWC will place closure signs at all entry points to the sanctuary to warn walkers of the danger.

Temporary Road Closure of the Moralana Scenic Drive – Sat 5th & Sun 6th of June, 2021

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The Ranges Rallysprint event will be underway on the Moralana Scenic Drive on the 5-6th of June 2021. This will affect access to and along a section of the Heysen Trail in the Flinders Ranges.

As the Heysen Trail crosses the Moralana Scenic Drive all walkers are advised to take extreme care for the duration of the event. The Heysen Trail will remain open to walkers.

During the event the road will be closed to vehicles (other than cars entered in the rally).  There will be no vehicle access along the road to drop off or pick up walkers planning to walk on that section of the trail.

While the rally cars will be traveling at high speed over various sections of the road, the short section of the road used by walkers will be classified as a ‘safety zone’. The organisers have advised that a speed limit of 40 km/hr will apply to that section of the road which will enable walkers to cross the road.

The section of the Heysen Trail that is affected is shown on Heysen Trail Map Sheet 8A and Map 5.6 of the Heysen Trail Northern Guide.

Heysen Trail reopens on Saturday May 1st 2021, with several major re-routes.

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The Heysen Trail reopens with the end of the Fire Danger Seasons.

The end of the Fire Danger Seasons in the Mid North and Mt Lofty regions on April 30th 2021, heralds the reopening of the Heysen Trail south of Wirrabara.

The trail north of Wirrabara reopened on April 16th following the end of the fire bans in the Flinders region.

Walkers note the following changes to the trail:

1. Cudlee Creek

HT Mapsheet 2B & 2C and Southern Guidebook Maps 3.6 & 3.7

Forestry SA have given approval for the reopening of the section of the trail affected by the Cudlee Creek fire in December 2019.

The trail markers destroyed in the fire were replaced this week and the trail is now ready for walkers.

The trail closure notes previously included in Walk Selector – Section 14 have been removed:

Walk Selector 14 – Montacute Heights to Cudlee Creek

Our Trail Development team is still working with Forestry to determine whether Grandpas camp is safe for use. In addition to the risk of falling trees, while the rainwater tank survived the water it was affected by ash. At this stage the camp remains closed and may do so for sometime yet.

2. Balquhidder ‘hike in’ site – temporary change 2021.

HT Mapsheet 1B and Southern Guidebook Map 1.4

The basic hike-in site installed by Friends of Heysen volunteers is having a major upgrade with construction underway from May to July 2021.

An interim site is being established by Parks SA in the same area but closer to the road. This remains a free site with water tank for use by Heysen through hikers. Please note the tank water may be limited although the creek is currently flowing.

The Heysen Trail route is not affected.

The good news is that this will deliver upgraded hiker camping facilities as part of the new Wild South Coast Way on the Heysen Trail

This project reflects SA Government investment delivered through collaboration between National Parks, Friends of the Heysen Trail, Yankalilla & Victor Harbor Councils.

3. Bundaleer

HT Mapsheet 5A and Northern Guidebook Map 1.4

Update as at 30 June 2021.

DEW has advised that following further consultation with landholders concerning the Bundaleer Greenway,  the following re-route has been reversed and the Heysen Trail has returned to the original route heading north west of Curnows Hut via New Campbell Hill.

Following the Bundaleer bushfire in 2013, the SA Government reviewed its tenure of the affected forestry plantations. Some of the land traversed by the Heysen Trail was transferred to private management.

As a result, the Heysen Trail has been re-routed considerably in this area. The new route over public land now involves an additional 22 kms.  The previous direct route from Curnows Hut to New Campbell Hill is on private property and access is no longer permitted.

The Department for Environment and Water has advised the Friends of Heysen Trail that the new trail has been marked and is now accessible to walkers. The new trail route is shown in the following link: – Bundaleer re-route of Heysen Trail

and added to the re-route page of our website: – Bundaleer Greenway re-route

 

4. Bowman Park section near Crystal Brook

HT Mapsheets 2B & 2C and Northern Guidebook Maps 2.1 & 2.2;

The Heysen Trail is closed between Bowman Park and Hughes Gap.  The Friends of Heysen Trail volunteers are working with Pt Pirie Council to develop an alternative route.

Update 19 July 2021

The new Bowman Park -Huddleston route has been finalised and is open to walkers. The re-route was published on our website on 21 May 2021.

The re-route will be added to the next version of the Heysen Trail gpx file and Interactive map which we expect to issue in a few months.

The Friends need help with Bookkeeping

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The Friends need help with Bookkeeping
The Friends are seeking a volunteer to join the bookkeeping team.

Job Description
– Manage the finances of the Association
– Maintain financial records – invoices, receipts, sales
sheets, and petty cash
– Pay accounts and manage the weekly banking
– Perform the weekly balance
– Liaise with Treasurer and Office staff

Skills Required:
– Have an understanding of general office procedures –
Use of various computer systems, including MYOB Account Right, Microsoft Excel and Word.
— Financial record keeping

Location and Times:
– The Friends office, Suite 203, Epworth Building,
33 Pirie Street, Adelaide
– Fridays – 10am to 2.30pm

For further information, contact the Office.

John and Margaret will happily answer your questions.

Eagle Waterhole ‘hike-in’ Hut and campsite closed May to July 2021

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The popular hike-in site at Eagle Waterhole in Deep Creek will be closed for reconstruction from May to July 2021.

An interim site is being established by Parks SA, approx. 300m further along the trail heading east: signage will direct walkers to a site with a water tank and picnic tables.

The Heysen Trail route will not be affected.

Walkers may continue to book online through the Parks website: National Parks… – National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. 

The good news is that this will deliver upgraded hiker camping facilities as part of the new Wild South Coast Way on the Heysen Trail: Wild South… – National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia .

This project reflects SA Government investment delivered through collaboration between National Parks, Friends of the Heysen Trail, Yankalilla & Victor Harbor Councils.

Heysen Trail Closure – Southern Flinders Ranges Parks (February 2021)

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Walkers are advised that access to the Heysen Trail in the Southern Flinders Ranges will be restricted  from 6 am  Saturday, 20th February 2021 until 2pm Friday, 26th February 2021.

Telowie Gorge Conservation Park, The Napperby Block of Mount Remarkable National Park, Spaniards Gully Conservation Park and Wirrabara Range Conservation Park  will be closed for the purpose of undertaking a pest control program.

The parks cover a long section of the trail on Heysen Trail Map sheets 5B and 6A  and Maps 2.5 to 2.7 of the Heysen Trail Northern Guidebook.

Many sections of the Heysen Trail are closed over the Fire Danger Season. The Country Fire Service has  already announced the commencement of the Fire Danger Season for the the complete length of the Heysen Trail.

However walkers can still use some sections of the trail, including sections that are not on private land including Conservation Parks and Reserves, Forests, public roads and vacant land – provided it is not a day of a declared total fire ban..

But the feral animal control program means walkers need to take note of this closure and avoid that section of the trail over the period from the 20th to 26th February.

For more information about the control program or park closure, please contact the Natural Resources Centre on (08) 8841 3400.

You can also check this and other park closures on the Parks SA Alerts page.