Walkers, skiers and horse riders using the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) will be pleased with the improved track along The Long Spur linking Mt Bogong and Mt Wills. After a year of planning, including a recce, sixteen BTAC volunteers supported by two Parks Victoria Rangers employed chainsaws, brush cutters, hedge trimmers and rakes to clear logs and densely encroaching vegetation. Volunteers included representatives from six clubs affiliated to Bushwalking Victoria and they contributed some 550 volunteer hours over the weekend.
An advance party arrived at the Mulhauser camp site on Thursday 1 December to set up camp and clear the 1km access track on to The Long Spur. The remainder of the team arrived Friday afternoon to get established. Work started in earnest on Saturday morning with the planned clearing, from Bossiaea Hill to a kilometre beyond Mulhauser Spur, completed by Sunday afternoon. It took some time to get all the equipment back to camp. The Parks Victoria rangers kindly provided the provisions for a sumptuous barbecue meal on Saturday night. The preparation and cleaning up was shared by the whole team. By 9:30 on Monday morning the camp was packed up and vacated – another successful BTAC activity!
John Green, the project manager for this activity, commented, “there was a good feeling of camaraderie among the group, all working together so efficiently to see such a length of track cleared to such a high standard”.
