Redwood forest: Visitors flock to Yarra Ranges National Park drawcard, causing traffic chaos

Tourists are flocking in droves to a rare Yarra Ranges redwood forest — but it’s causing traffic chaos.

AN UPPER Yarra tourist drawcard has come under fire after causing traffic chaos in Warburton East.

Sightseers are flocking in droves to the rare redwood forest — 9km out of Warburton — and parking hundreds of cars along both sides of the rural Cement Creek Rd.

The forest, set in the Yarra Ranges National Park, started out as an experiment in the 1930s when the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works planted Californian redwoods as part of a research program.

Yarra Ranges councillor Jim Child said he visited the street during the March 10-11 long weekend, and about 200 cars had parked on both sides of the very narrow road.

“On Monday afternoon (public holiday), police had to be called to Cement Creek Rd to actually sort out the traffic, it became gridlocked,” Cr Child said.

“This is developing into a serious issue.”

“It’s probably one of our most frequented tourist attractions in the Upper Yarra at the moment.

He said Cement Creek Rd residents were being “engulfed” in dust as hundreds of cars driving past their homes.

“It’s affecting their water supplies,” Cr Child said.

A piece of vacant, state-owned land, which used to be lived on by the former O’Shannassy aqueduct caretaker, could become a parking lot, Cr Child said.

“There’s dust and traffic jams and it’s time council and Parks Victoria get together to resolve this situation,” he said.

“We have to do something.”

Parks Victoria assistant district manager Jack Dinkgreve said there had been a significant increase in visitors to Redwood Forest, and Cement Creek Rd was managed by the council.

“Parks Victoria is monitoring visitor numbers which will inform any decisions for improvements that can be made to park facilities longer term,” Mr Dinkgreve said.

“We are currently exploring options to improve park facilities including more parking and will discuss options for access to the park with Yarra Ranges Council.”