Ernslaw One Limited

Ernslaw One Naseby Recreational Area

Naseby Forest is privately owned by Ernslaw One Ltd

The Forest Recreation Area covers more than 500 ha. Access is free for personal recreational use; however entry is only permitted during daylight hours and subject to fire danger and logging operations.

Commercial and Business use: It is mandatory for these groups to call in to Ernslaw One Forestry Office, 34 Derwent Street, or phone 03 444 9995 during working hours, prior to entering the forest. Ernslaw One’s Health and Safety Policy and Concessions need consideration.

Within the Recreation Area, Ernslaw One maintains approx. 50 km of tracks. Tracks are both walking and biking, please show consideration toward all users. Furthermore, there are picnic areas, a children’s playground, historic gold mining sites and two dams for fishing and swimming. Toilets are provided at the Coalpit Dam; these are drained and closed up during the winter months.

Use of the Forest Recreation Area is at your own risk. Please take note of the following:

Breaking of the rules or inappropriate behaviour will result in the issuing of a Trespass Notice and notification to the Police.

Any new hazards should be reported to the Forestry Office. Vandalism should be reported to the Police or Ernslaw One staff.

The Forest outside the Recreation Area is known as the Working Forest and access is by permit only!

Fire Season

The Naseby Forest is part of the Southern Rural Fire District and therefore bound by the rules and regulations of the Southern Rural Fire Authority. Ernslaw One’s newly established Fire Depot is well resourced with appliances and equipment to handle a forest fire situation.

During the summer months Ernslaw One has a Duty Officer on call 24 hours a day. One of the responsibilities is to monitor the Fire Weather Index daily at
1 pm according to a national standard and this determines if the Forest Recreation Area is open or closed.

When the fire danger indicator board at the entrance to Naseby is on EXTREME, the Forest gates will be locked at the main entry points and FOREST CLOSED signs fitted. Do not enter the Forest Recreation Area.  During periods of extreme fire danger the Forest is patrolled by Ernslaw One staff on a regular basis. When asked by any Ernslaw One employee to vacate the Forest please do so quickly.

The information if the Forest Recreation Area is open or closed is also passed on daily to the Naseby Information Centre, the Naseby shop, the Royal Hotel and Ancient Briton as well as to the Larchview Campground.

Removal of the FOREST CLOSED signs and open gates indicate that the Forest Recreation Area is open and safer conditions exist.

If you become aware of a FIRE, get out of the forest immediately and dial 111.  Following the flow of the Mt. Ida Water Race will cross forest roads and returns you to Naseby township.

In the event that it is considered necessary to evacuate Naseby the evacuation signal will be the continuous sounding of the fire siren for at least 15 min. For further information please refer to the Naseby Evacuation Plan, which is displayed on the town’s notice boards.

The Sandpit Mountain Bike Track located on Channel Road is isolated from the main Forest Block and therefore will be the last area closed during periods of extreme fire danger. As long as the Sandpit gate is open it is available for use as an alternative even when the Forest Recreation Area is closed.

A brochure with information about the Naseby Forest Recreation Area as well as a map showing the forest tracks is available for purchase at the Naseby Information Centre or the Ernslaw One Office.