Bushwalking Tracks & Conservation
Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation (BTAC) is a standing committee of Bushwalking Victoria that concentrates on tracks and trails strategy, exploring opportunities for new or upgraded tracks and trails, articulating a vision that bushwalkers want for the future and undertaking fieldwork in Victoria's national and state parks.
BTAC actively engages with land managers to enable Bushwalking Victoria to influence planning and the potential impact on bushwalkers at an early stage in the planning process.
For anyone interested in volunteering for track maintenance events, please click here to sign-up. All volunteers have to be either a member of a bushwalking club or an individual supporter member of Bushwalking Victoria. If you would like to become a member of a club, click here for a list of our affiliated clubs. If you would like to become an individual supporter member of Bushwalking Victoria, please click here.
Parks Victoria advises that “With the current fire conditions a lot of our regular volunteer programs have been put on hold, but when it's safe to do so, those programs and the amazing people who drive them will be back in the great outdoors. If you'd like more info on how you can volunteer when we shift to bushfire recovery activities, check out this link: https://fal.cn/360Dv. ”
Parks Victoria will be in touch with BTAC once they move into bushfire recovery mode and the necessary adjustments will be made to the track clearing program. Hopefully, a number of the planned projects will still proceed as they are in areas not affected by fires. Here is a link to parks affected by bushfires.
2020 Track Clearing Program (there may be changes due to bushfires):
| Start Date | Finish Date |
Project |
|
| 25/01/2020 | 27/01/2020 | Guys Hut - Wonnangatta | |
| 22/02/2020 |
|
Great Otways National Park - TBC | |
| 7/03/2020 | 9/03/2020 | AAWT Buckwong Creek | |
| 9/04/2020 | 12/04/2020 | AAWT Philack Saddle to Stronachs Camp | |
| 2/05/2020 | 3/05/2020 | Grampians National Park | |
| 16/05/2020 | 18/05/2020 | McMillian's Walking Track - Section TBC | |
| 6/06/2020 | 8/06/2020 | Bendoc - Snowy - TBC | |
| 27/09/2020 | 28/09/2020 | Yarra State Forest - Walk into History | |
| 26/09/2020 | 28/09/2020 | Croajingolong National Park | |
| 17/10/2020 | 18/10/2020 | Mt Buffalo - Mollisons Gallery and Eagle Point | |
| 21/11/2020 | 22/11/2020 | Howqua Area - Standley Name Spur |
Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation Volunteers do hands-on work on tracks and conservation projects that have been approved by Parks Victoria (in Victorian national parks) and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (in Victorian state parks). Work may include clearing vegetation, constructing or repairing steps or rails, fixing netting on boardwalks, installing or replacing signs, clearing water bars, removing noxious weeds or any other work that Parks Victoria or DELWP would like Bushwalking Victoria to help with.
Further Information
Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation Field Officers are appointed by BTAC and are responsible for a designated geographic area. They liaise and network with local bushwalking clubs and land managers and report monthly to BTAC. They are frequent visitors to their area and build strong relationships with land managers. Their task is to identify issues, recommend possible courses of action, research and investigate issues as requested.
Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation Club Contacts act as a point of contact to receive information about projects and to advise BTAC of track/conservation issues and activities that concern their clubs. The club contact person should have or develop a close relationship with the local Parks ranger, Friends Group or Advisory Group which may have a common interest.
