By Tyler Wright
Locals are once again able to enjoy the scenery at Doongalla Picnic Ground in The Basin after the park’s closure to the public nearly three months ago.
Parks Victoria confirmed it reopened Doongalla Forest Road on the early morning of Saturday 4 November, after it was closed on Thursday 10 August due to vandalism and hoon behaviour at the picnic ground.
Ferntree Gully local Graham Crichton said he is “really pleased” to hear the picnic ground had reopened.
“There are two lots of picnic grounds; there’s the lower and the upper and it’s a magnificent quiet area to go and lose yourself for a couple of hours,” Mr Crichton said.
“We’d gone up there plenty of times and met my wife’s sister and brother in law to have a picnic afternoon.
“The interesting thing was at the time three or four vehicles, like we did, came up to the gate and you had to get out to read the sign, and then had to turn around and go back, which we thought was pretty average.”
Mr Chrichton said he is also surprised the park has opened considering landmarks in the Dandenong Ranges – like William Ricketts Sanctuary – remain closed after the June 2021 storm event.
“I’m really delighted to hear that [Doongalla Picnic Ground] has reopened – and to be honest, we weren’t game to go and try it again because we thought ‘oh, we’ll probably get to the gate and find it still closed.'”
Said to mean ‘Place of Peace,’ a 32-room mansion was built at Doongalla – which was a former estate – in 1892.
The mansion burned down 40 years later.
On Facebook, Christine Ubert wrote she was angry and disappointed the site was closed due to some “selfish vandals”.
“[The vandals] didn’t give a thought of how it would affect the community,” she commented.
“Im so happy that its open again as its once beautiful place.”
Penny Staff wrote on social media expressing her anger at a national park being locked away for so long.
“Now my family can enjoy again after 50 years plus of visiting,” she penned.
“Such a beautiful place.”
It is understood Parks Victoria closed vehicle access into the picnic ground to prevent further damage to the national park and to allow repair work along the road and at the picnic ground.
It is also believed there may be a short closure period required this month while an automatic gate is installed and tested.
The closure is set to be communicated on the Parks Victoria website.
Parks Victoria also thanked the community for their patience during the closure period.
