Irresponsible behaviour could cost access
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 04, 2003 at 22:09
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Member - Howard
Great PR for 4wdriving in todays
Canberra Times.
Seems the irresponsible minority has bred considerably if reports that up to 50 4wd's turned the
camping area at Bendethra in the Duea nat park into a quagmire by chucking doughnuts in the valley. Also reported that they "practised multiple river crossings due to swollen river conditions and attempted hillclimbs up recently graded roads in wet conditions."
WHAT A BUNCH OF HEROES
bet they will whinge like cut cats if access gets restricted.
might be better if the culprits get cut, atleast they wont breed.
I know its unaustralian but to dob, but these idiots put public access by 4wd at risk and I would urge anyone who can do so to identify those responsible to the authorities either NPWS or police.
Personally I dont see the need to cross a swollen river multiple times . these d++heads were obviously lost and keep backtracking.
perhaps they should stay at
home, wait for rain and go to the rubbish tip if they want to get their vehicles all muddy.
I've vented my spleen, over to the
forum.
Howard
Reply By: Member - Kevin (NSW/ACT) - Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 12:25
Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 12:25
I was in Bendethra the weekend in question, leading an organised club trip on behalf of my club - the Landrover Club of the ACT. We were 14 vehicles in total and none of our vehicles moved once we set up
camp early on Saturday afternoon until we left early on Sunday morning.
A group of about 16 vehicles passed us on the way in and we saw some evidence of damage as we drove to
our campsite at the old
homestead site - mainly muddy wheel ruts in the grass where people had driven off the track. This group camped up the northern far end of the valley and we really didn't see or hear much of them over the weekend. I spoke to one of them as they passed us and know they were not members of a club - just a bunch of mates out for a good time. I went for a drive towards where they were camped prior to leaving and saw more damage - more ruts and donuts on grassed areas.
During the afternoon and Saturday night we heard a lot of loud explosions to our south, the opposite direction from us that this large group were camped. Some of our members were quite concerned, fearing they were shotgun blasts while others thought they were extremely loud firecrackers. We settled on firecrackers as nobody in our group felt like checking them out - just in case they weren't.
As we headed out of the valley for
home we came across another group
camp of perhaps 8 very muddy vehicles who were not there when we came in. Across from their
camp area was the damaged area that has featured in photos issued by NPWS. We were horrified at the damage caused by whoever was responsible for this act of extreme vandalism. If it was caused by the group camped opposite it is even more distressing to me as there were several
young children with that group - I can only wonder at the message they would have been left with.
It seems to me that there were at least two groups in Bendethra that weekend causing mayhem. One of the attractions of the area is that it is so spread out that many large groups could easily
camp and not see or hear the others.
We reported the damage to NPWS immediately we could. As we didn't actually see anybody in the act of causing the damage NPWS advised it is highly unlikely that any charges could be laid based on our reports. Hopefully some of the other campers in the valley have better evidence that will lead to those responsible being punished. Photographs of vehicles in the act of causing damage that show the vehicles registration numbers are the best form of evidence apparently.
The Landrover Club of the ACT does not condone this type of irresponsible behaviour and like many other clubs we fully support and adhere to Tread Lightly priciples and guidelines. We have offered to work with NPWS to help restore the area so it can continue to be enjoyed by all responsible visitors. Unfortunately, the acts of the irresponsible are making it increasingly likely that it will become more difficult for us to do so.
Kevin - sitting here, thinking of there
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2002 GU Patrol ST 4.2TD
2000 15' Supreme Getaway
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 13:52
Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 13:52
Good post Kevin. And
well done for reporting it.
Its starting to get every man for themselves.. Us and Them..
Us: that DO care
Them: the rest.
But whats with the LRC and a Patrol ;) TRAITOR!!!!! :D
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Michelle from ExplorOz - Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 14:24
Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 14:24
Kevin,
If you haven't thought of it already, I would submit your report of the situation to Tread Lightly! Australia and also get a copy to the NP office involved, and get a copy to the webmaster where this document appears. I will contact the directors of Tread Lightly myself (ExplorOz is partner of Tread Lightly!) and get their interest in follow up.
What concerns me is that if the NPWS misquote numbers and give a bad name to the
recreation. If it really is 8 cars, or even 8+15 then this number needs to be altered before other media pick up on this. Of course, the culprits did the wrong thing and we don't condone this, but bad eggs are in every
recreation and part of our society and the 4WD community needs to protect itself from stereotyping of this nature. If the facts disprove the quote, then we must get the facts out there and protect ourselves. ExplorOz
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Mark - Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 17:59
Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 17:59
Kevin,
Re: The shotgun blast. We camped on the outskirts of Deua a couple of years ago and heard what sounded like shotgun blast through the night. Had a uneasy night as it sounded like the blast were getting closer & we thought some nutter was coming down the river shooting people like in the movie "Deliverance". Anyway next morning & a chat with the
Ranger confirmed it was nothing more than the local farmers with some automatic fruit bat scaring device. Slept better the second night ....
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Reply By: Member - Melissa - Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 18:25
Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 18:25
What should happen is that anyone caught cutting up and running amock in this outrageous and irresponsible matter should not only be charged with causing criminal damage, they should also be made to pay restitution. Hit 'em wear it really hurts...in the hip pocket.
I knew of someone years ago who cut up a stretch of road that was under contruction. He thought is was a hoot until he got dobbed in and had to pay about $15,000 worth of damages.
First the buggars have to be caught though and here I have a word of caution. Be careful who you're dealing with. Being caught photgraphing or video taping the culprits in action could create a very uncomfortable situation. A few years back we camped at Lane
Pool Reserve and spent a night from hell due to the deplorable behaviour of a nearby group and one individual in particular. We kept a low profile and waited for daylight so we could get the hell out of there. A
young couple nearby called out at 2am in the morning for the idiots to be quiet. Subsequently they were hounded, intimidated and abused for hours. At the break of dawn they threw everything into their car and made a run for it. Unobstrusively we noted down the culprits number plates and reported the incident to the
ranger. I don't know if anything ever happened though.
:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Chris (W.A.) - Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 18:53
Thursday, Jun 05, 2003 at 18:53
We camped at Lane Poole about two years ago after they erected the
ranger station at the main entrance. Went down to the river for half an hour and some filthy scumbag stole our gas bottle and gas lantern extension from within our tent. Kama soon got the better of the little pr*ck and whilst he was hooning off in his little Suzuki Sierra (white one with custom made trayback for anyone reading this from the Dwellingup area) he must of hit a bump in the road which fractured the stem of the gas bottle releasing copius amounts of LPG - if only he had been smoking. A nearby camper had witnessed him getting rid of the damaged gear, put two & two together and managed to pursue the infidel in his own car. Even with him blaring his horn and chasing this bloke the three or four rangers at the station sat there watching the whole thing unfold - didn't even get the number plate as he drove past them within three metres - what are they there for? I'm sure they're supposed to be observant in their line of work - even record plates of ALL vehicles entering and leaving. Nothing to do with burnouts in national parks but this bloke would be one of them.
I waited two years to say that:)Love the bush.
Chris
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