Fire is a natural part of the Victorian and Australian environment and it has had a significant role in determining the mix of biodiversity we currently see in the planning area. Fire has also been used by humans for thousands of years. Victoria has seen a significant increase in fire activity on a landscape scale in the past 7 years, partly as a result of continuing drought cycles linked to climate change, and partly as a result of fuel levels across the environment.

Victoria's alpine country and eastern highlands provide a wide range of visitor experiences – from remote wilderness to developed visitor sites. A Visitor Experience Discussion Paper has now been added to the Knowledge Gallery to invite discussion on the future directions for providing a range of visitor experiences in the Greater Alpine National Parks.

The Wodonga Community Open House was well attended with 41 people attending. Interests included hunting, fishing, bushwalking, four-wheel driving, fire management and general park management.

The local ABC Radio and Border Mail also attended.

Parks Victoria and VRFish have established a formal partnership to facilitate and promote recreational fishing opportunities for all Victorians who visit and enjoy our parks' estate. Parks Victoria has issued a communiqué which encourages and actively supports Victorians and visitors to “Go Fishing” in Victoria.

Recreational Fishing and Park Management agrees that "future management plans for public parks will endeavour to

Community feedback has highlighted the need for a community open house in the Wodonga area. We're pleased to announce a community open house will be held in Wodonga at the senior citizens hall in Havelock St, Wodonga on Wednesday 28th October 2009 from 4-7PM.

All are welcome at the Wodonga open house, so please broadcast this message to interested people. You can drop in at any time between 4PM and 7PM and there will be a facilitated discussion between 5:30 and 6:30.

The Traralgon community open house on 12th October was a great success. Forty-seven people attended and some valuable input was gained.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings announced the appointment of the Alpine Advisory Committee (AAC) on Tuesday. The AAC will set management direction of the Greater Alpine National Parks for the next decade and beyond. The new members of the AAC have skills and experience in park preservation and protection, recreational use, cattle grazing and commercial tourism as well as local government" Mr Jennings said.

The members of the committee are: Richard Pickering (Chairman), Anne Casey, Graeme Dear, Philip Ingamells, Ernie Innes, Eileen Clark, Deirdre Slattery, Michael Coldham, Jarrod Paine, Glenn Tempest, Philip Weigall, Will Flamsteed, Charles Lovick, Simon Turner, Trudy Anderson and Gregg Cook.

The Melbourne community open house (8th October) and Mansfield community open house (11th October) were attended by a small, but knowlegable sector of the community.  Twenty-one attended then Melbourne open house and eleven attended the Mansfield open house. 

Today, a community open house is being held in Traralgon at the DSE office from 4-7 PM.

Local bushwalking and fishing clubs in Wodonga have requested an open house. We're keen to get a wide range of input and are happy to announce a community open house will be held in Wodonga at the senior citizens hall in Havelock St, Wodonga on Wednesday 28th October 2009 from 4-7PM.

The Greater Alpine National Parks provide a unique mountain setting for recreational fishing in Victoria. Recreational fishing is an established and cherished activity in the Greater Alpine National Parks and highly valued amongst Victoria’s recreational fishing community. Read the Recreational Fishing Discussion Paper and contribute to the discussion...

• How can recreational fishers and recreational fishing contribute to good management in the Greater Alpine National Parks?
• Are there any issues with recreational fishing in the Greater Alpine National Parks? In what ways could recreational fishing be enhanced in the Greater Alpine National Parks?

Nine people from the community attended the Omeo open house on Tuesday and twenty-five attended the Bright open house on Wednesday. Most stayed for three hours to provide valuable information to feed into the plan. All open houses are held from 4-7PM and the open houses still ahead are:

Melbourne - Thursday 8th October 2009
The Hub @ Docklands, 17 Waterview Walk, Docklands (Melways map 2E: H7)
Mansfield - Monday 12th October 2009
Department of Sustainability and Environment, 128 Highett Street, Mansfield
Traralgon - Tuesday 13th October 2009
Department of Sustainability and Environment, 71 Hotham Road, Traralgon

The first community open house was held last night in Orbost. Eleven people from the community attended, and most stayed for three hours to provide valuable information to feed into the plan. Common themes from the eleven were horse riding access, preservation of the environment and fire.

It was fantastic to see people at the open house in Orbost and we hope to see more tonight at Omeo. We hope you can attend one and/or let anyone you know, who might be interested.  All open houses are held from 4-7PM and the open houses still ahead are: