Border Track Closure ????
Submitted: Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 15:44
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Member - John (Vic)
At a meeting held between various parties in
Mildura on the 30/3/05 Including Parks Vic, South Australia's Dept of Environment and
Heritage, SAFWDA and VICFWDA.
The meeting was very sad because the Ngarkat Management Plan, in which we had no consultation, calls for the closure of the
Border Track on the 15th November until the 15th April in each year.
The reason is that the local
Ranger is the head of fire control and does not want any people in the Park in case there is a fire.
But there was more. As if that is not enough there is a plan to Tax/Toll people who use the track. The proposal is to have a Park Pass for driving through the Park.
Brett Cheatley from PV (he is the Western Victoria Manager) was somewhat surprised about these announcements.
VICFWDA will keep members appraised of the situation and advise members what if any action may need to be taken.
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WOMBAT all over again ?????
Reply By: Lone Wolf - Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 17:02
Sunday, Apr 03, 2005 at 17:02
This is probably not that much different from most other parks
John.
Ngarkat is one of the few parks that does NOT require a day pass. Camping only I think...
When you look at the big picture, and let's see..... what...... $6.00 - $10.00 @ day.....
Fades into insignificance when you consider fuel, tyre repairs, etc.
The fire thing,
well...... don't know........ Let's say you are at a more popular park here in SA, like
Deep Creek, it gets closed on really hot days. It would be hard work for a
Ranger to police this on a park the size of Ngarkat.
I think it's all to do with liability as
well. Tourists roasted on
border track as fire sweeps through park. Those are the sort of headlines we don't wish to see.
We are increasingly becoming a user pays society,
sign of the times I'm afraid. Still, and I'm only speaking from a South Australian view...... $100.00 @ year for a parks pass is small change, as compared to the equity we all have in vehicles, camping equipment, etc.
Others may disagree, and rightfully so, just my own view.
Maybe the States could get together, or maybe some of you guys in the clubs, and suggest that we have a National Parks pass, which is good for our interstate travellers. We are going to pay, either way..... but if we can stop the goal posts from moving, then we are on the right track, as a collective.
Cheers
Wolfie
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