Border Track Closure ????

Submitted: Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 15:44

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Member - John (Vic)

At a meeting held between various parties in Mildura on the 30/3/05 Including Parks Vic, South Australia's Dept of Environment and Heritage, SAFWDA and VICFWDA.

The meeting was very sad because the Ngarkat Management Plan, in which we had no consultation, calls for the closure of the Border Track on the 15th November until the 15th April in each year.
The reason is that the local Ranger is the head of fire control and does not want any people in the Park in case there is a fire.

But there was more. As if that is not enough there is a plan to Tax/Toll people who use the track. The proposal is to have a Park Pass for driving through the Park.
Brett Cheatley from PV (he is the Western Victoria Manager) was somewhat surprised about these announcements.

VICFWDA will keep members appraised of the situation and advise members what if any action may need to be taken.
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WOMBAT all over again ?????

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Reply By: Lone Wolf - Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 17:02

Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 17:02

This is probably not that much different from most other parks John.

Ngarkat is one of the few parks that does NOT require a day pass. Camping only I think...

When you look at the big picture, and let's see..... what...... $6.00 - $10.00 @ day.....

Fades into insignificance when you consider fuel, tyre repairs, etc.

The fire thing, well...... don't know........ Let's say you are at a more popular park here in SA, like Deep Creek, it gets closed on really hot days. It would be hard work for a Ranger to police this on a park the size of Ngarkat.

I think it's all to do with liability as well. Tourists roasted on border track as fire sweeps through park. Those are the sort of headlines we don't wish to see.

We are increasingly becoming a user pays society, sign of the times I'm afraid. Still, and I'm only speaking from a South Australian view...... $100.00 @ year for a parks pass is small change, as compared to the equity we all have in vehicles, camping equipment, etc.

Others may disagree, and rightfully so, just my own view.

Maybe the States could get together, or maybe some of you guys in the clubs, and suggest that we have a National Parks pass, which is good for our interstate travellers. We are going to pay, either way..... but if we can stop the goal posts from moving, then we are on the right track, as a collective.

Cheers

Wolfie

AnswerID: 104936

Reply By: REX.....(Adelaide) - Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 19:05

Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 19:05

its a good thing to close the park during the summer months to dam hot out there anyway .
if they left the tracks as 4x4 tracks and stopped making them so any man and his dog could get down them then less people would go ony dedicated 4x4 drives most of the border track is now a 2wd adventure it never used to be you can blame parks .. for that

AnswerID: 104955

Reply By: Willem - Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 19:24

Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 19:24

This would of course only be a closdure in the areas covered by National Parks. The rest of the track would still be open.

Maybe it will be a good thing so as stop unthinking travellers from putting themselves in harms way.

Life is a user pay thing.

AnswerID: 104961