Blencoe Falls Access
Submitted: Friday, Sep 29, 2006 at 18:58
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David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along
The
Cardwell Shire Council has closed access to
Blencoe Falls from the coast by closing the road prior to Kirrama Range. The Kirrima range road is one of those roads that is not within the local govt control, being an ex DNR road (forestry).
Cardwell Shire is trying to force the State Govt to fund an upgrade, by closing the part of the road within their jurisdiction.
An upgrade is not required in my view. The road is fine and always has been.
I have a petitionhere
Please download and print out and distribute as you see fit. Please mail the completed petition to the address provided.
Cheers
David O
Reply By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Friday, Sep 29, 2006 at 19:04
Reply By: Member - Jeff H (QLD) - Friday, Sep 29, 2006 at 22:51
Friday, Sep 29, 2006 at 22:51
David,
. We enjoyed Blencoe often in our 20 years in FNQ. Jan. '06, we approached from Innot side, and saw a note pinned to a tree saying 'book ahead'.
We just kept coming S.
. Like yourself, I always found the road up from Kennedy to be 'good/excellent'. Dunno Mate. We were privileged to take tea with Vernon and his Lady Atkinson at Minnimoolka ( regret errors, please adjust) in the eighties. On a subsequent trip, (mid 90's?), we were denied access via a neighbours property. When I explained the reason for our tresspass, he assured us that we could proceed. We turned 'round and took the long way home. (
eL Arish).
. Mate, I guess we enjoy an ever decreasing landscape: just hope a bit gets left for the 'as yet' unborn. Show your clients while it's there, and best wishes.JH.
AnswerID:
197230
Follow Up By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Friday, Sep 29, 2006 at 23:11
Friday, Sep 29, 2006 at 23:11
JH
Thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoyed the area so much.
The thing is we can't just accept an ever"decreasing landscape", and we can't accept that those "yet unborn" will not never understand the value of such
places, because they've never experienced them.
The future is a result of the actions we take now. Every concerned person needs to take action and
sign this petition and every one like it, if we are to have any chance at all.
Let's dictate the future we want for our kids..Download the petition and have everyone you know
sign it and send it off.
David O
FollowupID:
455698
Reply By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 07:30
Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 07:30
What sort of a fool is the mayor of
Cardwell? First the reason the road is changed is" public safety", then one of his people says it is " to force the State Govt to fund repair", then this morning in our paper he says he defends his position to keep the
road closed because Wet Tropics promoted the route as a tourism route without discussing with council.
Gee how bad is it to have a tourist attraction in your shire??
AnswerID:
197252
Reply By: Willykj - Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 14:35
Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 14:35
Hi,
We travelled that road in July this year - we were advised to try that road by the Tourism person in
Cardwell Shire Council - we went in from Kennedy. We had a great trip and a lot of
water was going over the Falls. The only problem was that lots of trees had fallen in the cyclone & someone had simply cut out a length to enable traffic to get through - so you had to wind through those holes in lots of
places.
The road did need a lot of work after the cyclone - perhaps that is a reason for the current decision. With the trees as they were in July it was a potential risk if anyone tried to go through with any speed - it was a slow trip.
Willy
AnswerID:
197279
Follow Up By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 14:43
Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 14:43
The reason for the current decision is political. The road maintenence is not funded by anyone. The point however is that the road is completely safe to drive on and should not be shut just so that Carwell shire can put pressure on the State Govt. To do so is to show a level of disrespect for the public that I find ridiculous. The road is safe and passable and should be opened. Only by allowing people to use it does the
Cardwell Shire Council have any chance of winning public support for their cause to have the maintenence funded. The problem is nobody I know wants the road upgraded- just maintained as it is and opened.
Rewards such as
Blencoe falls need to be hard earned...leave some areas as difficult to get to, it has worked for Purnululu for ages.
FollowupID:
455747
Follow Up By: Willykj - Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 15:01
Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 15:01
I appreciate your comments David & I have just returned from a 16,000km 4WD trip through 4 states. I did that road in the first couple of weeks.
However, I do see a safety issue here. I assume it is a public road & in its present condition it does pose a potential safety problem - especially with liability exposure etc.
I can understand the closure (& this is coming from an avid 4Wdriver) if no one is funding repairs & maintenance. The issue is that we should be pressuring someone to fund it not asking the Council to reopen it in its present state.
Willy
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 15:04
Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 15:04
I've driven it recently and disagree. The road is safe.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 15:06
Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 15:06
And the council should have had a public consultation process prior to closure. What is more, since the road on the range itself is not in their jurisdiction, I don't see it as being their problem. If it is unsafe (and it isn't) then let whoever has jurisdiction close it.
FollowupID:
455752
Follow Up By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 15:09
Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 15:09
The other thing is, this is not a public road as such, it is an ex forestry track that has been used by the public for decades. It is no different to a great number of tracks across this country including the
CREB track which is FAR FAR FAR more dangerous.
I'd encourage everyone who cares about access to take up this casue.
FollowupID:
455753
Reply By: The Landy - Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 18:30
Saturday, Sep 30, 2006 at 18:30
We can only hope it is re-opened without delay. This is a spectacular area and one that anyone travelling through FNQ should take the opportunity to see.
Coming down the range with the sweeping
views over Hinchinbrook is fantastic!
Good luck
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