Desert Pass - cost

Good point;
but the Desert Pass is not exactly for one year, is it ....... Simpson Desert is closed for 4months (intelligent decision). But in wet weather like now, most of desert tracks and campsites are closed.
And, you still running out on your pass .... Would be only fair to at least extend the pass for period that you can't go there if it's not by your choice?

Yep luck of the draw regarding weather.

Not exactly a valid comment that the Desert Pass is not exactly for one year is it.
The Desert Pass covers more deserts and parks than just the Simpson Desert, which are opened 12 months of the year. So it would be unfair to extend it based on the Simpson seasonal closure, you could choose to visit another Desert or Park to which the Desert Pass is still applicable to.

I'm hearing you on the maps, but that will be the legal people at SA Parks covering off on the "we gave you maps" if you should ever get lost, or heaven forbid, perish.

The world is run by legal eagles and insurance company's these days - all about liability management.

Cheers, Baz - The Landy

Good point;
Desert Pass is not exactly for one year, is it ....... Simpson Desert is closed for 4months (intelligent decision). But in wet weather like now, most of desert tracks and campsites are closed.
And, you still running out on your pass .... Would be only fair to at least extend the pass for period that you can't go there if it's not by your choice?

My first pass in 08 was about $80 and the maps then were the same as now.

With Jardine River at least they take you to other side of crocks infested river ...... Even that, you right, price is ridiculous too ..... pure greed.
If they want from me to fill their survey, they must pay for my view.....
SA government is greedy and we all should get some $ back from them when they want something.
Hooroo Dana

My early one I still have from 2005 was $60,~ + $40,~ renewal per another 2years.

he Jardine fee includes unlimited camping too.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

SA Government isn't greedy, they are broke thanks to Weatherill/Labor.

Not exactly a valid comment that the Desert Pass is not exactly for one year is it.
The Desert Pass covers more deserts and parks than just the Simpson Desert, which are opened 12 months of the year. So it would be unfair to extend it based on the Simpson seasonal closure, you could choose to visit another Desert or Park to which the Desert Pass is still applicable to.

I know, I paid for HRT $100,~ and I was pi..ed for that. But I loved Goyder's Pillar ......
Do you realise, if we stop driving those tracks most of those would disappear . We are people keeping the tracks “alive” … we should be phrased for that – not charged!

Mind you, Birdsville & Oodnadatta tracks are for free as same as CSR they are stock route and they are by law still for free to travel. Whats more, you can legally camp on stock route side for free !!! Not many people realise that, but few years back we have had battle to keep the stock routes as the governments wanted to sell them. Didn't happened, I hope it will never happen.
Dana

Birdsville and Oddnadatta Tracks are main roads so works are funded by the state government.
CSR no longer follows the original stock route and crosses indigenous lands at various points, thus now requiring permits which come at a cost.
The Desert Parks Pass is a park entry and camping permit all rolled into one.
Quite a lot of parks have an overnight camping fee and some have entry fees.
Given the difficulty in collecting such fees in remote areas it's entirely sensible to have a yearly permit and fee.

DGS closed down as cost saving measure :)

Regards

Gramps, like your reply ....

I agree, all the tracks in WA are free, yes you need permit but don't have to pay through the nose to get them.

Doing the Simpson and Hay River soon, $350 in fees before you start.

Hi Tony,

It is now getting a real joke and comes down to greed. When we first started doing the Simpson, a Desert Parks Pass was only $50 and they claimed that all money raised went back into running the Outback Parks.

They have now axed many rangers and getting the "Friends of Parks" to do a lot of jobs that were once done by rangers - so they are double dipping, no rangers wages, free labour from the Friends Groups, but making money from the Friends Group, as you have to pay to be members and the money goes back into...none other than the National Parks funds.

I am in no way knocking any Friends Groups, as they are the real backbone of our National Parks, from maintenance, through to very important survey work on all matters of things to the many valuable man hours spent repairing old structures, building fences, cleaning rubbish out from parks, bringing back to life old buildings etc and all for free. Fair being fair, and Friends Groups should have their members free of fees for the valuable time they spend behind the scenes than not many people are aware of.

If the Friends groups pulled out, our National Parks would fall into a very sad state of disrepair.


Just my ravings.



Cheers



Stephen

And raved very well I would say.

Stephen L I worked in Simpson and drove my car when back in town for 12 weeks a year.I had to pay 12 months rego.My job was oil exploration and I payed 40c in the $ tax.I asked for permit to drive the 12 weeks of the year.But they wouldn't give me one. I worked my butt off and contributed a big way to the economy.My crew found the biggest oil reserve in Qld.We got nothing a measly $4.50 an hr. Now I have to pay to drive on the sand, makes me laugh.I still not sure what the NP. people do in Simpson Desert and what that would cost.But like our Water Minister said our Water bills go to building schools hospitals and roads ..So who pays to fix the actual water supply .Today 5 pipes burst .Politicians need to be sent to Simpson Desert to do hard labour in middle of Summer ..I think 4wdrivers contribute a huge amount of tax revenue to Gov and without them many small towns would not exist and businesses wouldnt pay tax..

Hi Maurice

I know that there are lots that travel without a Desert Parks Pass.

The trouble is that if you get caught, you are in the real shit. First up you have to pay the $150 that you never paid in the first place, then there is a fine on top of the $150 you have just paid. They do hold spot checks in the Simpson and do catch many people. Being mobile they have more one than just one vehicle out there and catch people out when least expecting to see a Ranger.

Get caught a second time, and it is a Criminal Offence and you will end up in Court.

That was told to be by a local lad from Clare that now is a Ranger and spends time there as well as in the Flinders.



Cheers


Stephen

Going across Simpson, up through old Andado, cross plenty and down hay River back to Birdsville. That way i at least get part of a double Xing ha.

Would be interesting to know what the actual fine is & how many really get done over a year as after 12 crossings I'm yet to be asked for a permit & know of no one that has bar for camping at Dalhousie.
When deciding if any permit is value for money one must remember we already pay 38 cents per litre tax on fuel so the infrequent grading of SA parks roads is well & truely paid for just the government chooses to funnel that money elsewhere.

Hi Crackles,

Like many Simpson Desert crossers, we have never been stopped and had our permits checked......we'll sort of.

One time when we were camped at Dalhousie and sitting around the campfire.....yes those were the days when you could still have campfires there, we noticed one guy walking around the vehicles in the darkness.

We got up immediately and shoned the torch on him to see who it was lurking around our vehicles. It turned out to be the Ranger, checking to see that everyone who was camped there did have a Desert Parks Pass. Having said that, it was the first and only time we ever saw a Ranger there, after all our desert crossings.


Cheers



Stephen

Never seen that track graded yet. parks don't want to own it.

I was at the Western end twice last year. The first time there was grading happening at Dalhousie and along Perdika. The second, a couple of months later, it was clear that much of Dalhousie to Purnie had also been done.

I spoke to a Ranger. He said they were looking at realigning Perdika, for obvious reasons.

Wants a whinge Bob. Wasting our breath.

Ha ha Bob,

We have been there, done that a few times with our Desert Parks Pass.....lol



Cheers



Stephen