PM blasts NP

This has been a hot (pardon the pun) topic of discussion on talkback radio here in Sydney. They're saying the same thing: because of track closures they couldn't access the area to fight the fires in the Blue Mountains. Maybe now they'll see the need to keep these tracks open.

Not far from my place there used to be a fire trail that all the youngies used. Parties, illicit whatever it was all happening. The locals sealed it off. End of problem ? Yep, until the firies couldn't get in there, net result was damage to some people's homes from bushfires...you guessed it...the ones who closed it off.
Tough choices...

Maybe this will be the catalyst to some tracks opening again.

A timely wake-up call for NPWS

They have been at this for years.

I reckon it's about time they started to look at where the money comes from to fund the Nat Parks and make them more accessible to the population not less.

If we don't allow people into these places, then why have them. All the wonders of the world mean nothing unless people are able to appreciate them. There is of course the odd clown who will abuse the right but for goodness sakes lets not punish the whole population because of a ratbag few??

And the parks have a go at the greens nad doo gooders too about closing it all up..

the ball rolling??

And what about these politically correct 'Containment Lines' the media keep mentioning - what about good old fashioned 'Fire Breaks'. two syllables vs four. is Fire break a dirty word in these green times?

Garry,

While I appreciate the general sentiment of your comment you need to be a little careful.

A 400m fire break is a good idea but to believe that it will stop fire spread is a little optomisitic.

In 1984 I watched a relatively small bushfire jump across the Georges River from Alfords Point to Lugarno. The fire had not been burning for long nor had it come a long way. In fact it started at the top of the hill and ran about 200m down to the river before jumping well over 400m to the other side wher it destroyed a couple of houses.

Well prepared property much closer to the actual fire was saved, because it was well prepared and protected by well prepared people with a bit of common sense.

When they get going bushfires will spot miles ahead. One Christmas a few years ago I was puting out embers in my backyard at Blakehurst in Sydney which were coming from a fire at Warragamba.

The 400m fire break won't stop that. It will slow it down and allow firefighters a chance to control it.

The point of the thread is very pertinent though. You can't put the fire out if you can't get your truck in. You can't get a tanker down a disusesd severly eroded track. If you let 4wds in then most drivers will do some track maintenance.

Oh Choppers are a useful tool but they don't black out a fire.

The other problem is that if you can't get tankers in you can't do hazard reduction burns.

Gee jsut re-read that and it sounds a bit harsh. Not meant that way.

Duncs

National parks are a national shame. What was wrong with the annual burn off that the cattle men did with most of these areas in the cooler months of the year so as the fires were not a problem? The fires just cleaned the excess rubbish up and DIDN`T burn the bloody lot. Plus the bush was put to use. It feed a lot of cattle.

Greenies should hang their heads in SHAME. Houses destroyed and a life lost.

An open season on greenies may be the answer to most of the problems of this country.

I like NP,s ,if some people had there own way like the PM favourite talk back host and the man on the land we just may loose a few

nope- I agree with you- I was replying to Merylin

My parents farm backs on to what used to be a state forest that was created a National Park about 10 years ago. We used to ride our motorbikes there, and there was limited license tree felling under the old regime. The local BFB and other locals used to clear it regularly in the winter months. Did no great harm as there were Bellbirds and Lyrebirds and other wildlife living in the forest.

Since the NP took over, all the fire trails were blocked off, and no selective burning since then. Zero maintenance in the name of 'preservation'.

The whole park is now as tinderbox, is overgrown with detritus, and ALL the locals are living in fear of the 'big one'. When it happens it will probably kill most of the old growth in the forest and most of the fauna, and probably put all the neighbouring farms at risk.

Progress?!