Parks Victoria has begun recruiting a twelve-strong team of recovery staff to continue the drive to reopen fire-affected parks and reserves in Western Victoria.

The team will work alongside rangers on the front line of recovery efforts, reopening areas and visitor facilities to enable them to be enjoyed once again, following major bushfires in 2024 and 2025

Since fires burned 135,000 hectares—nearly 80%— of the Grampians National Park last summer, Parks Victoria rangers and specialists have carried out more than $1.8 million of work, including 18km of track stabilisation on the Grampians Peaks Trail and laying more than 7000 tonnes of gravel on access roads.

The average day will see the recovery team clear undergrowth and dangerous trees, rebuild tracks and roads, replace destroyed lookouts, picnic tables, benches, toilets, steps and bridges.

Specialist biodiversity recovery roles will focus on the plants and animals impacted by the fires, building on the successful work done by multi-agency teams in the immediate aftermath to protect endangered animals like the brush-tailed rock wallaby.

Fire and flood recovery projects are complex and can be lengthy, but many popular locations within the Grampians National Park are already reopened to visitors, including large sections of the Grampians Peaks Trail and popular campgrounds, day walks and viewpoints. More information is available on the Parks Victoria website.

Mt Buangor State Park, affected by a fire in 2024, has also seen a comprehensive recovery effort led by DEECA and Parks Victoria to rebuild and reopen the campsites, tracks, roads and other visitor facilities in the state park and neighbouring Mt Cole State Forest.

The new roles are in addition to 12 rangers recruited for work centres across the state and a further 18 permanent ranger positions filled from internal applicants.

For more information about jobs with Parks Victoria, visit https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/careers.

Quotes, attributed to Parks Victoria Chief Executive Lee Miezis

“These new roles are about continuing the hard work our rangers have done to reopen the Grampians and other fire-affected parks in western Victoria.”

“We know how important these parks are to local communities – both for the economic benefits they bring and the outdoor opportunities they offer. We’re focused on rebuilding and reopening to support long term recovery.”

“These new roles are local jobs that are a chance for people to contribute to their communities and make a real difference for outdoor recreation and nature in the region.”

As the Grampians landscape regenerates, Parks Victoria teams will continue to reopen visitor areas. Credit: Parks Victoria

The Boroka Lookout is one of the spectacular Grampians locations reopened since the fires. Credit: Parks Victoria