Greater Eildon Area Project
The Greater Eildon Area project is nearly completed. This is an exciting new initiative on the part of the Outdoor Education Group in the Eildon area of Victoria. Many teachers will recall camps based at the Eildon Centre. The Centre was OEG’s operational base for many years until the construction of OEGs National Head Office in 1996,. It was in fact leased from a very generous local property owner. Last year OEG purchased the property outright. This has made the Greater Eildon Area project possible. The project is firstly a development of already existing facilities there will be new facilities both at the Eildon Centre and at Wanggai, a large area behind the National Head Office, and in other areas in the district plus links between them. Some of the exciting new facilities will include a bike path through the bush, low ropes course, water and land initiatives, contoured walking tracks, climbing tower, tent platforms, water tanks, compost toilets and new severe weather warning campsites. The project has involved detailed new programming, leading to enhanced student participation. The focus of the project team at present is on infrastructure development to enable the new style of programming in 2009. Much work has been done in consultation with archaeologists and conservationists to ensure that approval and support is gained from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment. The Greater Eildon Area is to be divided into four zones. Each of the zones has distinct characteristics and educational opportunities, and they are interconnected with corridors for travel by cycling or walking.
The Bush Zone will have multiple contoured tracks leading into either Wanggai or the Eildon Centre via RamleighPark. The main activity will be bushwalking and accommodation will be in tents with self-dig toilets.
The Wanggai Zone will be connected to the Eildon Centre by a contoured bike path via the National Base, Pondage, the Pondage wall and utilises the Back Eildon Road. The track is 2m wide and covers a distance of 10km. There will be a High Ropes course, a cycling loop and a climbing tower. Accommodation will be in tents on platforms with fires under shelters. There will be six severe weather warning campsites in the Wanggai area. Toilets will be of the drying/compost type and there will be bush/solar showers.
The Eildon Centre Zone will be connected to campsites by the river and by bicycle. Activities will include day canoeing and rafting on the river, a low ropes course, water and land initiatives, and cycling. Accommodation will be in tents and school staff will be housed in OEG owned bus style tents. There is a new staff seating area, and staff shower and toilet in addition to the existing facilities.
The Goulburn Zone will be reached by bicycle, walking or bus. Activities will include overnight camping and canoeing and rafting on the river. Accommodation will be in tents and there will be OEG owned drying toilets on private land.
The project will open up to schools lower priced programmes, which will enable more students to participate in high quality Outdoor Education. From OEG’s point of view there is an important side benefit. Staff who have worked with OEG for a long period and who have settled in the area with their families, but no longer wish to undertake challenging expeditions a long way from home, will be able to continue to work with OEG in constructive roles.
