mundaring track closure

Info received from CALM - dated Thurs 19May - 'about 3 weeks ago we received a call from a staff member in Jay Radisich's office (local MP). He said they had been contacted by the youth hostel (YHA) who complained that 4wd use in and adjacent to the YHA was in fact increasing and that vehicles were spoiling the peace and were abusive when asked not to use the area. One of our rangers subsequently met with the YHA proprietors to discuss their concerns and inspect the 2 tracks in question. The tracks are highly eroded and there are also safety concerns as one track drops asteeply off a large granite boulder. The proprietors advised that 4x4 drivers were roaring through the YHA precinct, with one narrowly missing a child in the YHA playground. In addition one the tracks was spewing eroded silt and soil onto Mundaring Weir Rd. Given that the district had already had problems in the area and the tracks were poorly located in the landscape, highly eroded, causing conflict with local landowners and unsafe, it was decided to close them.' Prior to all this the tracks were blocked with logs to stop use by 4wd vehicles. A pity as both the WA4WDA and Trackcare have been working to get access to the Collie area restored and then this.............No wonder the media have a field day...............'child killed in playground by 4wd'................now that would look good. rgds