Four Wheel Drive Victoria have been advised by Parks Victoria that the “four fires (M89 Mayford - Tuckalong, M97 Mt Darling - Cynthia Range, M91 Licola - Mt Margaret, as well M96 Hibernia Black Snake Creek) that are/have been burning within and around the Foothills and Southern Alps and Dargo areas are now all classed as contained or under control. This is a mammoth achievement that began on 28 Feb, and these fires have totalled 127, 909 hectares in footprint. However, there is still a lot of work to do to ensure the 4WD tracks within and around the fire footprint are safe in terms of hazardous trees, emergency stabilisation and rehabilitation.”

Conor Wilson from Parks Victoria is the Ranger Team Leader / Dargo / Foothills and Southern Alps and has advised “the Foothills and Southern Alps is largely still closed, except now access is permitted to the campsites north of Licola along the Wellington River (from Friday 5 April), on the Dargo High Plains Road (Thursday 4 April) and the Australian Alps Walking track (Thursday 4 April). The road is now blocked at the end of the bitumen preventing access along the Tamboritha and Howitt Road and you are unable to access Tali Karng or the Crinoline or use Mt Margaret track. The closure of the Foothills and Southern Alps will be maintained over the Easter holidays, as there is still a large volume of heavy plant and firefighters in the area conducting emergency stabilisation and rehab work and ensuring that track access is improved and safe for park visitors.”

Four Wheel Drive Victoria recommends that clubs wishing to visit the High Country over the coming holidays check which roads and tracks are accessable and which parks are closed.