Mt Ginini - Air Traffic Control Building

Darkfalz said :

creative_canberran said :

It’s not Air Traffic Control. It’s a VHF relay maintained by Airservices Australia as part of the AERIS Network. The building has generators and equipment but is automated.

Not true, we have tertiary VHF there which is used by ATC. It is not staffed obviously, except for PIs and maintenance (there are facilities there for techs to stay the night, as it is remote).

Cosy beds for two? heh heh

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

I think you’ll fine that the ACT has part of their TRN radio network up there.

That’s right, one of three permanent UHF repeater towers in the ACT (the other two on top of Isaacs Ridge).

molongloid said :

Limiting public vehicular access south of Mt Franklin comes from the NSW management plan for the Bimberi Nature Reserve from 1997, which seems to be current. The ACT’s Namadgi plan from 2010 doesn’t mention it though and talks quite positively about visitor access. The road goes through both parks however. I hope that the more recent report is a sign that objectives have changed.

Also, to improve firefighting access the ACT is upgrading the Mt Franklin Rd to the Mt Ginini car park this year. So it’s not like the road is being run down.

@creative_canberran, are you in the know?

The public sections of the Mt Franklin War (F1-3) will be upgraded to Float Standard, which ensures safe passage for 2WD vehicles and gentler grades. Most of it will involve maintenance within the existing footprint of the road. There only one point at which the road will be substantially reengineered.

Vast bulk of the work is on sections F4 and F5 and Cotter Hut Road, which are being upgraded to 4×4 Tanker Standard but don’t have public access.

Project was due to be completed this month actually, not sure how progress is going.

I think you’ll fine that the ACT has part of their TRN radio network up there.

welkin31 said :

Interesting article and comments – of course there is another reason to keep access open to Mt Ginini and that is the BoM weather instruments. Does anybody have a photo showing the BoM instruments ?

Speaking of which, Canberra weather radar offline since Sunday?

welkin31 said :

Interesting article and comments – of course there is another reason to keep access open to Mt Ginini and that is the BoM weather instruments. Does anybody have a photo showing the BoM instruments ?

I’ll put some Ginini photos from the last 5 years or so up somewhere tonight. Including photos taken through the fence of the BoM stuff at http://g.co/maps/vvr8

A couple of photos of the area, including the amazing views form the top, taken earlier this year: https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/20145853/1/Ginini?h=f08502

Interesting article and comments – of course there is another reason to keep access open to Mt Ginini and that is the BoM weather instruments. Does anybody have a photo showing the BoM instruments ?

Molongloid, on my recent ride to Cotter hut I witnessed that they are keeping the tracks in good condition for fire accesss. There had been quite a bit of works on the track up from Ororral with bulldozer marks everywhere. They had even re-done a crossing over a creek with a new causeway and new drainage. The tracks are in extremly good condition, so much so that you could drive a normal car over them, you would only need a 4WD for the steep bits & the table drains.

The thing is, its not really hurting the environment having the tracks open & it gives people who are unable to hike or ride a bike a way of reaching the higher points of the ACT and enjoy the spectacular views.

creative_canberran said :

An added note, the Management Plan for the Bimberi Reserve indicates that if the Airservices Australia facility is no longer required, the beacons will be demolished and relocated outside of the park. Subsequent to this and by negotiation between Airservices and the ACT Government, public vehicular access to the Mt Franklin Road will be terminated at a site within the nature reserve south of Mt Franklin.

KB1971 said :

It would be a shame for the gate to get closed, vehicular access is already extremely restricted in the Brindies.

I’d love it to stay open to Ginini. It’d save lugging radio gear a few extra kms for field days and competitions. See photos tagged ginini on flickr. Popular with amateur radio operators.

Limiting public vehicular access south of Mt Franklin comes from the NSW management plan for the Bimberi Nature Reserve from 1997, which seems to be current. The ACT’s Namadgi plan from 2010 doesn’t mention it though and talks quite positively about visitor access. The road goes through both parks however. I hope that the more recent report is a sign that objectives have changed.

Also, to improve firefighting access the ACT is upgrading the Mt Franklin Rd to the Mt Ginini car park this year. So it’s not like the road is being run down.

@creative_canberran, are you in the know?

KB1971 said :

It would be a shame for the gate to get closed, vehicular access is already extremely restricted in the Brindies.

Yes, the Ginini carpark is really handy for access to Gingera. Makes it a pleasant, shortish walk.

I had no idea there was anything up on Ginini.