THE peace at Arthurs Seat was disturbed by the sounds of tree lopping and bush clearing last week as Wangaratta-based contractors working for Arthurs Seat Skylift removed vegetation at the sites of the proposed bottom and top gondola stations.
It was the first major work by Skylift on the $16 million ride, which it is hoped will be open before Christmas next year.
On Friday morning, Skylift’s Simon McKeon and Hans Brugman inspected the two sites with representatives of Doppelmayr of Austria, which will be fabricating the ride, and Parks Victoria officers including district manager Libby Jude.
The clearing Monday to Thursday last week followed work by Parks Victoria and Mornington Peninsula Shire mid-October, which Ms Jude said was part of “fire preparedness works in Arthurs Seat State Park for the Skylift [gondola] project”.
The summit picnic area off Purves Rd and the car park at the bottom will be closed during construction.
Parks is encouraging visitors to picnic at “the expansive and secluded Seawinds Gardens, just a short 600 metres walk from the summit picnic area”.
Picnic and barbecue facilities will remain available at the main picnic area to the north (Port Phillip side) of Arthurs Seat Rd, where public toilets, playground and picnic shelter are located.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 27 October 2015
