Parts of the Wombat State Forest will soon reopen to the public after weeks of efforts to clean-up the area after a wild storm swept through the region in June.
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Forest Fire Management Victoria have now assessed all of the impacted strategic fire access roads, with about 43 per cent of those roads now cleared.
FFMVic expects this figure to increase during the next five days, with crews to use heavy machinery to remove hazardous trees.
It comes after a ferocious storm ravaged parts of Victoria on June 10, including through the Wombat State Forest, causing hundreds of trees to fall and leaving many residents in towns such as Trentham and Blackwood without power for days.
Some areas of the forest have not yet been cleared due to access issues, seasonal road closures and bad weather.
After further assessments for safety risks and work to address hazardous trees, some areas of the forest will soon be reopened to allow the community to collect firewood, along with some recreational sites.
Grampians Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Tony English, said FFMVic was finalising plans to open parts of the forest.
"Since the storm, our crews have been completing hazardous tree works and stabilising impacted roads and tracks, including allowing access to some designated firewood collection areas from 1 September 2021," he said.
Closures have been in place to protect the community from the continued risk of hazardous trees and due to the movement of heavy machinery conducting clean-up works.
Even when parts of the forest do shortly open, the 'public safety zone' will remain in place and some areas will remain closed.
This is because of ongoing public safety concerns due to the risk of falling trees and as crews will be completing 'critical work' with plant and heavy machinery.
FFMVic stressed the importance of adhering to closures, both for personal safety and to allow crews to operate safely and effectively.
Mr English thanked the community for being patient while the clean-up continued.
Further updates will be provided as more recreation sites reopen.
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