General News
2 August, 2023
Projects ahead, visitation up for Mt Noorat
THE annual Mt Noorat report has shown visitation is on the rise, with a slew of projects expected to be completed over the coming year.
THE annual Mt Noorat report has shown visitation is on the rise, with a slew of projects expected to be completed over the coming year.
Corangamite Shire Council received the Mt Noorat Management Committee Annual Report at last week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, which highlighted hundreds of hours of work undertaken by the Mt Noorat Management Committee.
Committee achievements over the past year included 2 hectares of fencing for revegetation around Dead Man’s Gully, holding the first community planting day in August and strengthening relationships with Traditional Owners.
In addition, 40 students from the Glenormiston-based Alpine School were involved with revegetation efforts in the crater, and volcanic cut stones for use as seating and signage were delivered.
The committee has a number of projects set to be completed by the end of 2023-2024 including the construction of a viewing area with connecting walking tracks, and the development of a website and information brochure for Mt Noorat.
Councillor Geraldine Conheady moved the motion to receive the annual report.
She said the committee was a great example of a community management committee “that’s doing a great job with their responsibilities”.
“I get to enjoy mount Noorat quite a lot, living right beside it, and they’ve done an enormous body of work,” Cr Conheady said.
“There’s so much in front of them as well; they’re certainly a very active committee and enterprising.
“They’ve got healthy income with the leasing and licencing arrangements and they’re making the most of that and the opportunities they have.
“They’re doing a great job of taking care of the community and I want to thank them for all the work they’ve done and wish them the best for the projects they have ahead.”
The report revealed Mt Noorat remained a popular destination for visitors, with a counter located at the walking track showing a rise in visitation.
Data collected from the walking track showed an average of 24 visitors a day or 730 per month. The figure represented an increase in visitation from the previous year’s average of 20 visitors a day or 610 per month.
Committee members remained active, contributing over 800 volunteer hours during the past year. Community members also contributed an additional 200 hours to projects over the same period.
In-kind labour for Mt Noorat was estimated to total $25,000 for the 2022-2023 year (1000 hours).
Cr Laurie Hickey seconded the motion, praising the work of the committee.
“Congratulations to the management committee,” he said.
“It’s always an important job to look after community assets, and to have a hands-on approach to weeding and vegetation, but probably more important is a formal management has been developed between 2023/2024.”
The Mt Noorat land parcel is attracting income in a range of ways including a grazing license, communications tower leases and grant funding.
In 2022-2023 the existing lease and license arrangements provided $53,513 of income, which allows the site to be managed without long term financial support from council.
The Mt Noorat Management Committee have accumulated a reserve of $180,222 from previous years.
The forecast income for Mt Noorat during 2023-2024 is $56,057 and with the exclusion of grants funding the projected expenditure is $50,000.
Council has a current agreement with Mortlake South Wind Farm developer Acciona to expend a $50,000 contribution for the Committee and Mt Noorat.
These funds are allocated towards the new viewing area, walking tracks and associated infrastructure expected to be constructed over the next 12 months.