The friends of Rokeby and Crossover

- Rokeby and Crossover Friends Group Inc. -

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Our Aims
The Rokeby & Crossover Friends Group Inc. has been formed to offer people who have an interest in looking after our local bush areas the chance to become involved and make a difference We have many goals which we aim to reach over time that will enhance our bush areas for all to enjoy. Our group and committee is made up from members of many different user groups From Horse Riders, Motorcyclists. 4Wdrivers, Bushwalkers, Dog Walkers1 BMXers, etc. This diversity of people ensures the group approaches projects with the best possible interests and objectives for all the user groups who enjoy this area. Our main priority at present is to clean up and maintain the local bush areas and prevent futher vandalism and rubish dumping. We currently have in place a local watch network' comprised of our members who intend to stop anymore vandalism and report people who intend on using this bushland as the local tip. By working as a local watch network', we can offer this bush constant surveillance and start to make the offenders accountable for their actions. Our group combines the ideas of securing clean bushland settings for future generations as well as a socia' group that offers people the chance to get together and just catch up with the latest news. This is an opportunity for anyone interested in finding out more about our group the chance to come and join in. For more information or a membership form please go to the Contact Page.

CURRENT PROJECTS
The Rokeby/Crossover Friends Group is a community forum that represents the whole of our community on any and many issues that may arise as our regional area develops and the Melbourne metropolis draws closer. All members use our forest area for recreational purposes so our group has a particular interest in how it is managed in the past, present and future.Our membership consists of interested residents, bushwalkers, plus group representation from the Gippsland four wheel drive club, Warragul motorcycle club, Gippsland miners and prospectors club, two horse riding clubs and two local hall committees. We also affiliate with both the Tanjil Valley, Springsure and Neerim Landcare groups and have representatives from the D.S.E., Parks Victoria and the Baw Baw shire attend our meetings.The shire is very pro-active in the field of community development and relishes the opportunity to liase with active groups and what the people of the shire would like to see happen within their own communities. To this end we, as a group have a strong position with what projects and ideas are undertaken within our surrounds.

As a group we have representation on the following committees:
1) CENTRAL HIGHLANDS TRAILBIKE INITIATIVE:

A program set up by the D.S.E. to form a strategy to tackle the ever increasing problem of motorised vehicles in the parks and forest areas. In late 2004 a series of workshops were conducted throughout Victoria to ascertain the full extent of the problem and to gain an insight from all forest user groups and those individuals affected by bikes as to the best result for all parties concerned. From here a strategy paper was formulated and presented to various committees around the state for their feedback and amendments. The state government has funded the implementation of this initiative to the tune of five million dollars and although this will be administered by the D.S.E. the project committees have a vital say in the development of their particular areas. Our area of concern covers from Tarago State Park through to the eastern boundary of La Trobe State Forest plus the Rokeby/Crossover regional park and various pockets of the surrounds. Currently the committee is initiating procedures to establish a Motorbike unloading area on Latrobe river road and a horse unloading area off Whitelaws track this will be done in conjunction with a few track closures in the vicinity of these areas (necessary because of the environmental damage and degradation and the fact that we cannot actually find any-one who now uses these particular tracks.) Another vital part of this initiative will be the setting up of an area for junior riders to attend and learn the art of trail-bike riding and the responsibilities that go along with it.
Read RCFG's Submission to Trail Bike Initiative. For more in depth information log onto the D.S.E.

2) TOWN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE:

This committee was set up by the Baw Baw shire to bring together representatives from all areas to discuss "what the shire can do for us" and let all the different communities know what is happening in other areas of our shire, thus, forming a network of communication, co-operation and idea sharing so that the whole of the shire can come together and benefit each other. One of the most vital steps here was the formulating of a five and ten year visionary plan for each of the towns and communities represented, this was done by public consultation and the results will go a long way towards what projects and initiatives the shire undertakes in the future.

3) NEERIM DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

A committee comprising of representatives from local groups and individuals that are interested in the development of this particular shire ward. Although started some years ago, the association waned for a while but has recently been re-invigorated and is now very pro-active in all community projects and events. We consider this a very valuable network as it allows us to mesh with all the different interest groups close to home as well as have a say in the bigger picture of our shire ward.

MAJOR PROJECTS WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN:

1) Hawthorn Bridge restoration and re-development.
2) Neerim District walking track (Crossover to Rokeby section).
3) Restoration of Crossover trestle bridge .

OTHER ON-GOING PROJECTS:

1) Co-ordination of the community groups display at Neerim District Agricultural Show 2008.
2) Clean-up Australia day 2008.