Track Closures

Yes - all very sad, but welcome to the rest of Australia!
Hard to no what to do?

Interestingly, in the Brindabellas (Canberra) which is now a National Park, all the tracks are being upgraded (excuse the pun) for insurance purposes as a result of the bushfires (my guess!). It will be interesting to see if they close the area after spenging buckets of money on the tracks?

PS. I think you should change the "BE HERD" to "BE HEARD" - do want to look like a bunch of old cows!

HI Truckster, Track closures make my blood boil, after all we as tax payers own gov land. Most of the time we have to pay entrance or camp fee's to be able to visit the bush. A lot of the time we don't help ourselfs, if some greenie got hold of some of the photo's posted on the bottom of replies on this forum they could have a field day showing how we damage the environ, and display it so proudly.

It's imortant to email the Minister for Environment and spell out that we want access.
I have a number of contacts in Parks Vic and Dept Environment etc . THey mostly express the same concerns as us. THey are under funded and undermanned. They advise the decisions are poitical, it's cheaper to lock us out than to manage.They know the fire trails are valuable and and all the blokes in these dept I talk to want to see us retain access to our own country.
They advise the pressure needs to be applied at the top as you cannot get through comming up the ranks.
I would like to think that every member of this forum might be able to find time to send off mails.
I already have over Otways and had all sorts of reassurances that my concerns at being locked out are unfounded. I wish I could believe them. BUT if enough mails are sent by diffferent people these suits will get the idea that a lot of voters are upset.
The recent fires have given us more opportunity to not be ignored.
Truckster you seem to know the ropes on this forum, I'm only a recent visitor. How about getting everone stirred up to email state and fed ministers?
Regards
Joe

Truckster,
2 Dept guys have expressed this point recently...
One in Apollo Bay area stated he left the gates closed to most of the tracks as he barley had enough time and money to keep the tourist roads open, let alone worry about the fire trails.
The other stated simply it's cheaper to lock people out.
So why do you disagree with the experience of the dept guys on ground.

Joe

Truckster,
I hope you get a good response. Bums on seats, people take notice.
All people need to do is take a few 4WD tracks around the border near the Snowing River. Very nice drives end at the NSW/Vic border for no good reason, apart from pleasing people in the past that have put political pressure on the Govt.
Its also cheaper put up a gate and sign to keep out!
A good way to get votes, and spend less money!
I agree, that after the recent fires, this attitude may change a little.

Access will only go one way, with responsible parties involved, a compromise can be found that allows access, and limits damage.

I hope the meeting is a huge success.

Thommo

Excuse if this is a "newbie" question but on the issue of fire trails - is it not the case that 4WD traffic helps to maintain these trails buy running down/chopping off vegetation?

The more usage the better the track is maintained? I am in the SA CFS and I'm sure I have heard of this being true.

Obviously if there is a gate then there is no access but for more remote areas I believe that track usage is encouraged to help keep them open.

Maybe it is the irresponsible minority that go thru tracks when wet and chop them up that stuffs it for the rest of us?

Steven

A typical reply from Berine, we can always justify our own actions, but you missed the point if some one wanted to prove irresponable use of tracks (like Greenes, NPWS, etc) they could use these pics, they won't ask or supply an excuse for driving like that. It amuses me the way some people react to construtive criticism.I think we all want to keep as many tracks open as possible and pics like this could come back and bite us hard on the ass.