Jol from Direct Four WD Awareness replied:

I know lots about the Colson Track. It is NOT open, you can try to get a permit at the CLC but good luck. I have been working on it for years to no avail. Instead we have moved over to the Hay River and opened it up. Give me a ring 088952 3359 for more info.
i do not suggest you do it alone

Cheers Jol Fleming

Member - Bob replied:

Richard, we were lucky enough to get a permit for Easter last year. It took a lot (months) of direct liaison with individual staff in the CLC, notably one of the anthropologists who had to speak directly with the traditional owners. Apparently someone went there a few years back and desecrated a sacred site. No wonder they are reluctant to let more people in. We travelled from Alice Springs south and hit the French Line and turned right. There was a jar with several messages in it but no evidence of recent traffic. There were fresh tracks along the Madigan line (which crosses the Colson).Bob

Willie replied:

Apart from a good show of wildflowers when we drove the Colson some 10 years ago the trek was a tad boring as one drives in the dune corridor.

At this stage the track crosses a small portion of Aboriginal land and this thing with permits and the Central Lands Council is just a power-play game. None of the traditional owners lived anywhere near their land( at the time when this land was granted..I am not sure of the situation these days). Getting permits is a thing that really pisses me off and I tend to want to go direct to the traditional owners and ask them for permission if I feel that it is justified. Vast tracts of OUR country is tied up with a no go, no use mentality, while blackfellas carry on with their cultural slide in the towns of Australia.

And yes, before you accuse me of being a racist, I have black ancestors.
Cheers,
Willie
Never a dull moment

squiz replied:

I see your point Phil , Bob , I'm just paranoid about more
Land closures. Don't know what the answer is to the lease hold
land either.