Mount Buangor State Park fire and storm recovery

Project status

•  After preliminary road works, the Dairy Maid Road opened in May 2025 which provided 4WD access to the Mount Cole State Forest from the Western Highway.

•  Dairy Maid Road requires further work to ensure the ongoing stability of the road. The works are currently being planned and will lead to a short-term closure.  When dates for the works are known, the temporary closure will be communicated through the Parks Victoria website. 

•  Once works are completed, visitors and local community will once again be able to access Mount Cole using the Ferntree Gully Road from the Western Highway to Dairy Maid Road, connecting to Mount Cole Road in Mount Cole State Forest.

•  Works at the Ferntree Visitor area and waterfall walk will be completed this summer and will provide picnicking and a short walk to the beautiful Ferntree Falls. The opening of this popular day visitor site will provide a carpark, bbq’s, picnic tables, toilets and a new improved walking track and pedestrian bridge to the falls.

Updated September 2025

The recently completed footbridge at Ferntree Falls

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 burned 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.
 

Charlies Creek Hut in Middle Creek Campground

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