Gorge gasps at shortfall

By Melissa Donchi
THE official opening of Sugarloaf Falls at Yering Gorge last week was overshadowed by the drought.
As a result the ‘falls’ have been reduced to a trickle and owner Ross Stevens is worried.
“We’re looking forward to getting a good rainfall in the next few weeks,” Mr Stevens said.
Mayor Tim Heenan and Yarra for Life Program coordinator Greg Milne were on hand to officially open the falls and take a walk around the new tourism estate which opened earlier this year.
Both are passionate about nature based tourism which they believe is the way of the future.
“Passive recreation is the way of the future,” Cr. Heenan said.
“It’s not about adventure parks and cities, it’s about getting back to nature, getting out and having walks and taking the beauty in.”
Yering Gorge provides 14 kilometres of bushwalks and plenty of natural scenery to feast your eyes on.
The falls are expected to be one the biggest drawcards with its dramatic facade and resident platypus that surfaces from time to time.
Mr Stevens said he is concerned about the affect of the drought on the falls.
“It will affect the business if there’s no rain,” Mr Stevens said.
But so far it hasn’t stopped people from coming to the gorge with the Stevens reporting plenty of local and international interest.
“They love country nature, especially the walks and all the Australian wildlife,” Mr Stevens said.