ForestrySA works plan curbs vandalism at Hell’s Hole

A year-long works program has allowed ForestrySA to put a stop to ongoing vandalism occurring at the popular tourist attraction ‘Hell’s Hole’, in the Green Triangle. Long a target of vandals, Hell’s Hole is located within ForestrySA’s Mount Gambier Forest district, just 17km South of Mount Gambier.
Tired of the problem, ForestrySA determined to investigate and implement actions to curb the problem at Hell’s Hole and devised a step-by-step works plan to be implemented over a 12 month period starting in September 2010.
Initial works were carried out by ForestrySA to pull back vehicle access to the site by installing visitor parking on Sea Coast Hill Road.
The Cave Diving Association of Australia was then enlisted to remove rubbish previously dumped into Hell’s Hole, while a walking trail, markers, visitor information bays, bench seating, picnic table and chairs were installed by work parties from the Department for Correctional Services (DCS).
ForestrySA Ranger Mr Mark Whan said 66 volunteers had spent a total of 379 hours working at Hell’s Hole since September 2010.
“Very little vandalism has occurred since works started,” Mr Whan said.
“The DCS Repay SA community service program inspects the site for vandalism on a regular basis and makes any repairs as necessary.”
The DCS work groups currently work with ForestrySA six days a week, with two crews rostered on each Saturday.
Future ForestrySA projects planned for DCS work groups include planting and maintenance of biodiversity corridors, woody weed control in native forest areas, removal of illegally-dumped rubbish and construction of information bays and picnic tables to be installed in recreational areas.