Broome/Derby

Hi Mick,
I did it in September last year, the road was graded up to the mine camp and after that it was back to the old track to Kunawarritji. Their were no signs and only call points going over crests did not see anyone the entire trip.
Andy

Don't just carry on about the miners. We have only just shifted from living very near James Price Point for several years and the scariest problem my wife was having was from the protesters filming her and standing in front of the car on a regular basis, not the Miners.
I don't know where you are from but the idea you just call the Police shows you have not lived up there.
They are busy doing more serious problems like the stabbings, bashing's and murders in their area that covers thousands of square kilometers.
When our house was broken into and many,many thousands of dollars of gear gone I called them to ask if they were coming and the reply was, quote, "do you think your the only person to have their house broken into" ? and then he hung up so I don't think they will be interested in your problem of signs, security personnel, somebody touching you or your precious car and "transgression in this society".
If you feel you have a point to make up there, go into the Broome copshop and tell them and film it for us to watch so we can have a laugh at your expense and watch you leave with your tail between your legs.

I actually expected many many more rude, illogical and just plain viscous replies to my (I thought) well written contribution about companys with mining leases 'blocking' public roads probably with no legal right. There are a lot of ex-mining company employees and ex-government employees that contribute here - and that's fine of course. But PLEASE learn to read and digest the thread that you reply to before posting an irrelevant and moronic reply!!!!-it may make you feel better but it doesn't advance the debate - if there is one - about COMPANYS WITH MINING LEASES 'BLOCKING' PUBLIC ROADS PROBABLY WITH NO LEGAL RIGHT!

Macca

Macca


I would say that in WA there is more issues over Pastoral Leaseholders illegally blocking access to public roads than miners. Mining leases are very well regulated and there is structure for compalints and resolution. Also Miners generally are concious of public image.
Pastoralist generally have a different atttude

Alan

Hi Alan

Yes that could very well be the case - I'm no expert on pastoral leases but I thought their rights were of the "access cannot be unreasonably refused" type - as I say I really don't know for sure.

I should add I've just seen the Exploroz Treks entry on the Kidson and access and I read there that the Aboriginal owners have entered into agreements with mining companys' regarding upgrading the road and giving them exclusive use of the upgraded road.

That may then mean that 'blocking' the road by the Aboriginal owners pursuant to their land rights and agreements made under those rights may be totally legal - I think that it's high time all these issues should be pubicly aired and the legal framework supporting road closures (for example) should be easilly accessable to travellers and completely transparent.

The current rumour, innuendo, sudden erection of 'signs' scuttlebut etc etc does nothing to help the land rights debates and only serves to arm the racist element in society with 'bullets to fire' on the issue

Quoting form the Exploroz article, are:

triple road trains, trucks, road graders and other heavy vehicles are now travelling along this single lane track under strictly controlled work site conditions every day and night in both directions.

??? That seems an extraordinary claim for a mining company to make!!!Driving a road train over the Kidson Track night and day in both directions???

But assuming it's accurate - if the conditions are strictly controlled, why can't bona fide travelers use the road anyway??? It's 'strictly controlled' isn't it???

I'd like to hear REASONED contributions from others on this and related issues...

Macca

In relation to the Kidson track, it would depend i suppose on wether it was an actual public road to start with. Public as defined to be a Gazette road, such as Great Eastern Hwy. If it is a non gazetted road running through Aboriginal land, it is probably classed as a Private rd, then the owners can do what they want.

If a mining company has then spend $ to upgrade the road and maintain it, there is proabably rights they then have over use of it.

There are two other examples of this situation, being the access and egress tracks from Well 5 & 9 on the CSR. The tracks are maintained by the stations and pass through their land, and a fee is payable for their use. Not sure what the legaility is but most people seem to pay it with out arguement.

There are two other issues often overlooked, Safety and Duty of Care issues. The easiest way for these to be managed is exclude all unnesecary persons.

Thanks Bob - I can imagine the thrill at seeing the Ocean after the trip on the Kidson...

Macca