Benalla / Mansfield

Benalla-Mansfield Region

The Benalla-Mansfield Forest Management Area (FMA) is in north east Victoria, centred around Mansfield and stretching from Benalla in the north to Frenchman's Gap along the Mansfield-Woods Point Road in the south.

Benalla-Mansfield Region Map

Benalla / Mansfield

Current Projects - see below

Stringybark upgrade works continue
Craig's Hut opened after third rebuild
Grazing returns to the forest after fires

In this section

Places to visit
Maps
Local Species
Heritage
Firewood Collection
Forest Management Plan
Wood Utilisation Plan

Current Projects

Stringybark upgrade works continue

The Stringybark Creek Redevelopment Project is being jointly managed by DSE and Benalla Rural City (BRC) and assisted by a Stakeholder Reference Group representing a broad variety of organisations and interest groups.

Consultants, Green and Dale Associates were appointed to develop a concept plan for the area. The first stage of the improvements are almost complete.

Benalla Rural City have completed the construction of the carpark, located on the opposite site of the road to the day visitor area. DSE have constructed a new toilet facility that is suitable for disabled access and will complete some landscaping works around the parking bays in the next week.

The Project has experienced some delays as a result of all DSE staff and crew being involved in fire fighting over summer.

Key upgrades within the day visitor area including the Kelly Tree are now well underway. The realignment of the walking track to the Kelly Tree and construction of low stone wall seating around the new interpretative panels and shooting site has been completed. Installation of the new foot bridges to the camping ground and the shooting site are due to occur shortly.

For further information on the project please contact Rachael Nolan, Project Manager on 03 5733 1249 or rachael.nolan@dse.vic.gov.au

Craig's Hut open after third rebuild

Australia Day 2008 marked the official opening of Craig's Hut (mark III) in front of a crowd of over 120 people, many of whom had been directly involved in the rebuild project. The previous hut had been destroyed in the extensive fires of December 2006, with the site subsequently closed for some time.

This was in fact the third rebuild of a Hut on the site. The Original hut built in 1981 for the first ‘The Man from Snowy River’ movie was a film set and soon fell into disrepair. The hut was rebuilt by volunteers coordinated by the Mansfield Alpine 4WD club in the 1990’s.

This third replica of a mountain cattlemen’s hut is similar to the previous hut, however stricter safety standards where required given the high number of visitors to the hut and surrounds. This most current rebuild was completed with combined efforts of a builder and volunteers and funded by the State Government as part of the Bushfire Recovery Programme.

Tourists returned to Clear Hills throughout the building process from early November 2007. As part of the project new interpretive material has been developed which explains the values of the site, including Aboriginal cultural, site history, flora and fauna as well as describing historical huts in the area adding greatly to visitor’s understanding of the site and surrounds.

For first time visitors and those that have been there many times before, the ‘new’ replica is well worth a visit. Enjoy your day!

Grazing returns to the forest after fires

Cattle grazing, just one of a range of uses managed within State forest, has long been a tradition over the summer and autumn months in select areas of State forest around Mansfield, namely the King, Howqua and Jamieson Valleys, Razorback, Clear Hills, Howqua Slopes and Evans Creek. However, after the extensive fires of 06/07, no grazing was permitted within the affected State forest areas to allow for the recovery of native vegetation.

This year, licence holders of affected areas were asked to review their runs jointly with DSE and DPI to identify where sustainable management of grazing was possible and where grazing still needed to be excluded to allow for further recovery. From this request, three licence holders partook in assessment, with all graziers able to return to part or all of their licence areas.

The scientific assessment was based on:

the presence of significant flora and fauna within or close to the licence area and the impact that grazing would have on its recovery
impact on Alpine Ash regeneration
risk of erosion
containment considerations
grassy biomass availability.
The results were used to indicate where stock would be permitted and also the maximum allowable stocking rates. Cattle will be removed by April 30th.

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The Benalla-Mansfield Forest Management Area (FMA) is in north east Victoria, centred around Mansfield and stretching from Benalla in the north to Frenchman's Gap along the Mansfield-Woods Point Road in the south.	Current Projects - see below Stringybark upgrade works continue Craig's Hut opened after third rebuild Grazing returns to the forest after fires In this section Places to visit Maps Local Species Heritage Firewood Collection Forest Management Plan Wood Utilisation Plan

	Stringybark upgrade works continue The Stringybark Creek Redevelopment Project is being jointly managed by DSE and Benalla Rural City (BRC) and assisted by a Stakeholder Reference Group representing a broad variety of organisations and interest groups. Consultants, Green and Dale Associates were appointed to develop a concept plan for the area. The first stage of the improvements are almost complete. Benalla Rural City have completed the construction of the carpark, located on the opposite site of the road to the day visitor area. DSE have constructed a new toilet facility that is suitable for disabled access and will complete some landscaping works around the parking bays in the next week. The Project has experienced some delays as a result of all DSE staff and crew being involved in fire fighting over summer. Key upgrades within the day visitor area including the Kelly Tree are now well underway. The realignment of the walking track to the Kelly Tree and construction of low stone wall seating around the new interpretative panels and shooting site has been completed. Installation of the new foot bridges to the camping ground and the shooting site are due to occur shortly. For further information on the project please contact Rachael Nolan, Project Manager on 03 5733 1249 or rachael.nolan@dse.vic.gov.au
	Craig's Hut open after third rebuild Australia Day 2008 marked the official opening of Craig's Hut (mark III) in front of a crowd of over 120 people, many of whom had been directly involved in the rebuild project. The previous hut had been destroyed in the extensive fires of December 2006, with the site subsequently closed for some time. This was in fact the third rebuild of a Hut on the site. The Original hut built in 1981 for the first ‘The Man from Snowy River’ movie was a film set and soon fell into disrepair. The hut was rebuilt by volunteers coordinated by the Mansfield Alpine 4WD club in the 1990’s. This third replica of a mountain cattlemen’s hut is similar to the previous hut, however stricter safety standards where required given the high number of visitors to the hut and surrounds. This most current rebuild was completed with combined efforts of a builder and volunteers and funded by the State Government as part of the Bushfire Recovery Programme. Tourists returned to Clear Hills throughout the building process from early November 2007. As part of the project new interpretive material has been developed which explains the values of the site, including Aboriginal cultural, site history, flora and fauna as well as describing historical huts in the area adding greatly to visitor’s understanding of the site and surrounds. For first time visitors and those that have been there many times before, the ‘new’ replica is well worth a visit. Enjoy your day!
	Grazing returns to the forest after fires Cattle grazing, just one of a range of uses managed within State forest, has long been a tradition over the summer and autumn months in select areas of State forest around Mansfield, namely the King, Howqua and Jamieson Valleys, Razorback, Clear Hills, Howqua Slopes and Evans Creek. However, after the extensive fires of 06/07, no grazing was permitted within the affected State forest areas to allow for the recovery of native vegetation. This year, licence holders of affected areas were asked to review their runs jointly with DSE and DPI to identify where sustainable management of grazing was possible and where grazing still needed to be excluded to allow for further recovery. From this request, three licence holders partook in assessment, with all graziers able to return to part or all of their licence areas. The scientific assessment was based on: the presence of significant flora and fauna within or close to the licence area and the impact that grazing would have on its recovery impact on Alpine Ash regeneration risk of erosion containment considerations grassy biomass availability. The results were used to indicate where stock would be permitted and also the maximum allowable stocking rates. Cattle will be removed by April 30th.

Forests