comment on treks, tracks graded,closures.

Hi mike g2, yes it's an ongoing problem - our desire to have a bit of a 4WD vs rules and regulations. Some say that the land was carved up wrt 4WD tracks so that the clubs got some to remain open while the others were closed to vehicles and remain only for walkers. I am refering here to NE Vic. Trouble is, a 20 or 30 km walk is simply too long for plenty on this forum. Case in point is Nadgee NP in far SE NSW. The Cartoscope map had some fire trails but upon inspecting the NPWS site they're closed except to walkers. Too far for us.
And as for some so called tracks, the Bloomfield Track up in the Daintree being the prime example, you are spot on, it's just a graded dirt road with any steep bits concreted.... W

Hi MG

Not sure if the track over the top was recently closed - we did in in Sept 2012.

I have seen a proposed management plan about the NP and they don't talk about closing the track they intend leaving it open. Here's what the proposed plan said on p 35.




Some visitors traverse the planning area on the rough 4WD track over the top of Range, but numbers appear to be very small. In the short to medium term, the track will not be promoted due to significant hazards, alignment, erosion, wildfire risks, and the lack of visitor infrastructure and management capability.

Furthermore, access to this track from the Ullawarra Road is through Minnie Creek Station via a station track. Mt Sandiman homestead is well located on this track and could potentially assist in managing visitor access and provide visitor accommodation and services accessing the planning area via this route (see Maps 1 and 2). Dispersed, unregulated camping and exploration of gorges, dunes and other features occurs along this 4WD route. Visitor risks are high (see Section 27. Visitor
Safety).

This plan allows 4WD access to continue across the top of the Range. In doing so, however, the Department and the Conservation Commission recognise that the development of appropriate visitor facilities and control of visitor numbers is
required to prevent impacts and to retain the remote experience (see Introduction and Administration of a Permit System for Crossing the Range). To date, there are no designated sites or facilities on top of the Range.

cheers

Hi Mike,

I blame the Greenies (fun police). The Greenies want to stop anything that is remotely enjoyable and turn us all into video game fatsos. They claim they are into environmental awareness but I've never heard them ever campaign against the spiraling population.

You reduce Aust population by a half and watch the prob's disappear.

Cheers Wilko