Mount Buangor State Park fire and storm recovery
Project status
• Major works on Dairy Maid Road are now complete. This popular access road in the southern area of the park provides 4WD access through the park from the Western Highway to Mount Cole State Forest.
• Visitors and local community can now access Mount Cole using the Ferntree Gully Road from the Western Highway to Dairy Maind Road, connecting to Mount Cole Road in Mount Cole State State Forest.
• The Ferntree Visitor area and waterfall walk will be completed this winter (weather dependant) and will provide picnicking and a short walk to the beautiful Ferntree Falls.
Other works on roads, campgrounds and walking tracks will continue throughout the year.
• All other areas of the park, except the overnight Beeripmo walk linking through to Mount Cole State Forest, remain closed until they are safe to open.
Updated July 2025
Background
In February 2024, a large bushfire (known as the Bayindeen-Rocky Road fire), hit Mount Buangor State Park and nearby Mount Cole State Forest.
Driven by extreme heat and hot winds, the fire quickly burnt through the park causing significant environmental and cultural damage and destroying all visitor sites. This included Middle Creek, Ferntree and Bailes Camping areas; walking tracks and roads; signage; shelters; toilets; picnic tables; bridges and stairs.
Two months later, a severe storm caused further damage to the park. Heavy rain caused erosion and pushed thick layers of ash and sediment across vegetation, roads and walking tracks.
The extensive damage caused by fire and storm forced the park to be closed to the public.
Parks Victoria is working through the development of a recovery program.
Above: Fire damage to Charlie’s Hut in Middle Creek Campground.
Above: Fire damage to Ferntree visitor area toilets.
Above: Erosion damage to roads after storm rainfall.
Above: Sediment flow onto roads after storm rainfall.
The project
Parks Victoria is leading a fire recovery project, working with other agencies as part of the whole of government recovery response.
Parks Victoria and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action are working through the next stages of recovery at Mount Buangor State Park and Mount Cole State Forest.
At Mount Buangor State Park, Parks Victoria is delivering $250,000 of initial works, which includes: fencing, signage, bollards and gates to support visitor safety. The funding will also support collaboration with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
This project includes impact assessments; clearing debris from camping areas, roads and tracks; and planning, scoping and rebuilding of park infrastructure.
Project timeline
Fire and flood recovery projects are complex and can be lengthy.
The safety of staff and contractors working in the park is a priority. As is ensuring natural and cultural values in the landscape can be properly identified, assessed and protected.
The park was closed to allow the natural recovery to begin. The park will progressively reopen as works to enable visitor experiences are completed. Following the reopening of the Beeripmo Track in January 2025, the next visitor experience for reopening will be the Fern Tree Walk and Day Visitor Area. .
A detailed timeline for the park to re-open to the public will be determined as planning and assessments are completed.
Environmental Recovery
The park has experienced a dry period with some recovery of understorey vegetation. Parks Victoria will conduct a second aerial deer program in the coming months, along with pig control actions across the park. There are some promising signs for the park to recover across time and with community assistance.
Managing Country Together
This project is being delivered on Eastern Maar Country.
Parks Victoria will be working with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation during this recovery project.
Who are we working with?
• Forest Fire Management Victoria
• Grampians Wimmera Mallee water
• Pyrenees Shire Council
• Mid-West Tourism
• Park neighbours and community
Access changes
The park is closed and will remain so for some time.
For up-to-date visitor and access information visit the Mount Buangor State Park page of this website.
Other Parks in the wider area available for camping and walking include:
• Langi Ghiran State Park - East of Ararat
• Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve - West of Clunes
• Kara Kara National Park - North of Avoca
• Enfield State Park - South of Ballarat
• Creswick Regional Park - Creswick
• Mount Cole State Forest, where some visitor areas are now open to enjoy - check: https://ffm.vic.gov.au/forest-and-road-closures
Putting safety first
Visitor safety is our number one priority when considering risk in parks.
While nature will always be unpredictable, our projects and maintenance works help minimise risks and help people explore the great outdoors safely.
Parks Victoria is responsible for continuously managing and maintaining over 50,000 pieces of infrastructure across the state annually. We’re also delivering new projects to help visitors get into nature. These are thoroughly planned and prepared to keep people and projects separate – and safe.
When visiting a park where projects are happening, especially during construction, it’s important that people follow the direction of signs, stay out of fenced and restricted areas, and listen to Parks Victoria staff and work crews.
To help Mount Buangor State Park to recover, and in the interests of safety, do not enter the park:
• Fire recovery areas are fragile with unstable rocks, soils and trees
• Roads are unsafe, due to unstable ground, erosion, sediment, debris and hidden holes from burnt underground roots
• Trees will continue to move and impact roads and walking tracks, especially after rain
• All visitor sites have been affected and will require significant assessment, planning and rebuilding
• Fines do apply for breaching park closures.
Related information
- Media Release: Recovery underway at Mount Buangor
- Mount Buangor State Park