Redwood Forest, Warburton and 1000 Steps, Upper Ferntree Gully closed
Popular outdoor spots the 1000 Steps and the Redwood Forest were shut down after thousands flocked to visit over the weekend. Now authorities are considering their next move.
Outer East
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Scenes at tourist hot spots in Melbourne’s outer east have been described as “bedlam” by police who had to control huge crowds and traffic.
Parking fines were handed out at the 1000 Steps in Upper Ferntree Gully, while video footage was shared on social media of officers turning cars away from the Redwood Forest in Warburton East on Saturday.
Parks Victoria made the decision to close the tourist attractions over the weekend at both locations and the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden in Sherbrooke.
Last week Yarra Ranges councillors made an urgent decision to install no stopping signs on Woods Point and Cement Creek roads, leading up to the Redwood Forest after recent overcrowding at the tourist attraction.
A video shared on Facebook showed a huge line of cars parked for at least 1km leading up to the tourist attraction as thousands of people flouted social distancing rules and flocked to the park a fortnight ago.
Parks Victoria only recently opened both parks — and others around the Yarra Ranges — after the State Government decided to relax lockdown rules.
But repeated calls by authorities to remain vigilant and abide by social distancing rules have fallen on deaf ears and swathes of people made their way to the popular parks.
Yarra Valley operations manager Senior Sergeant Peter Muys said it was “bedlam” at the Redwood Forest and extremely busy.
Sen-Sgt Muys said police were co-ordinating traffic making sure no extra people entered the forest.
He said the closure of the areas over the weekend was a State Government decision, and authorities were deciding whether to close the parks again next weekend.
“We go along so there is no breach of the peace,” Sen-Sgt Muys said.
“It was flat out, you could see from the footage it was extremely busy.”
Knox highway patrol Acting Sergeant Kate Fisher said fines were issued to people who had illegally parked along Mt Dandenong Rd to visit the 1000 Steps.
“They had to close the park, it was absolute bedlam on Saturday,’ Acting Sgt Fisher said.
She said at the Redwood Forest some people had been caught taking down the Parks Victoria closed signs but pleading ignorance when confronted by police.
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“Half of Melbourne turned up,” she said.
“Social distancing would have been impossible at the 1000 Steps. They decided to close it because of the sheer numbers.”
She said police handed out fines for people parking in no standing zones along Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd and on blind bends.
“My advice is to check to see if the parks are open and be sensible,” Acting Sgt Fisher said.
A Parks Victoria spokeswoman said visitors to parks were reminded to use good judgment and should consider heading to alternative destinations if its too busy.
“Parks Victoria worked with Victoria Police on Saturday to close the 1000 Steps, Redwood Forest and the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens for the duration of the weekend due to concerns over physical distancing,” she said.