Dandenong Ranges’ 1000 Steps stays open to visitors on total fire ban days

PARKS Victoria refuses to close a popular site when fire danger is rated “very high”, despite hundreds of visitors using the fringe park every day.

1000 steps area and car park in upper Ferntree Gully.

THE 1000 Steps was flooded with tourists and schoolchildren on the state’s last total fire ban day as Parks Victoria still refuses to close the popular spot on high-risk days.

Instead, the authority continues to spruik its confusing fire safety message and has even hired a “fire and emergency communications officer” to “deliver co-ordinated and consistent messages to the community”.

In a media statement, the State Government authority said before the catastrophic Black Saturday bushfires the Dandenong Ranges National Park was closed on all total fire ban days, but “this caused a number of issues with the community”.

“The safety of visitors is Parks Victoria’s No. 1 priority. Parks Victoria will continue to close the park when fire and wind conditions are severe,” the statement said.

But local fire chiefs say the park should be closed on Melbourne’s total fire ban days regardless of conditions to avoid public confusion about whether it was safe to use the park.

The Leader photographed buses with school groups and tourists at the 1000 Steps on November 25, which was a total fire ban day.

Despite previously telling the Leader the steps would be closed on all total fire ban days, Dandenong Ranges National Park area chief ranger Matt Hoogland has now said closure depended on the local fire danger rating in Coldstream and Ferny Creek.

Mr Hoogland said that on November 25 the steps remained­ open because the fire danger rating in Coldstream was “very high” — not “severe”, “extreme” or “code red”, which would have triggered a closure.

This is despite Yarra Ranges Council closing Birdsland Reserve in Belgrave and Kalorama’s Karwarra Australian Plant Garden — on all total fire ban days.

The council’s risk, emergency and community safety manager, Brett Ellis, said the parks were closed so people were not “caught out in the event of a bushfire”.

Puffing Billy also stops running through the hills on total fire ban days.

The Environment Minister and Emergency Services Minister were contacted for comment but the Leader did not receive a response.