Halls Gap suffers fallout as blazes deter visitors
VISITORS are yet to return to the tourist town of Halls Gap, menaced by last months massive Grampians bushfire.
The Halls Gap Tourism and Business Association says about 500 of the towns accommodation beds would normally be filled every night at this time of year.
But the fire, which burned through about half of the neighbouring Grampians National Park before it was finally brought under control last week, had scared off tourists.
“There is no tourism in the town at the moment,” association president Julian Carr said.
“That is to be expected because weve gone through two weeks of doom and gloom publicity, and people are understandably nervous.
“But the town is fully functional, the area is safe and the access roads are open … there is little reason for visitors not to visit.”
Halls Gap is about 260km north-west of Melbourne and the town has a population of about 500 and is the centre for the Grampians.
The blaze began on January 20 and burned through about 130,000ha, making it the biggest of a spate of fires across Victoria in recent weeks.
About 130 firefighters are still involved in mopping up, back-burning or patrolling the fires active edges, but easing conditions have allowed some areas of the Grampians National Park to be re-opened to the public.
Mr Carr said plans to reinvigorate the regions economy would also include tours of the parks devastated bushland.
“Part of the park is open and there are tour operators fully functional there,” he said.
“There is a natural interest in understanding the bushfire, so this is a chance to educate people and also use the affected areas as an attraction.”
The Border Mail
Graham Muldoon
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