Dingo Proof fences and grids Fraser Island

Having just come back from Fraser Island, i'd say the problem is systemic of the way mainly Backpackers treat this place and their stay. Throw a set of top-heavy Troopcarrier keys at 11 backpackers with little/no experience in this environment (apparently there was a DVD that they should have watched), leave tyres at 42 PSI, limit their travels (which they ignore anyway) and you have a recipe for ignorance of the rules. Plaster signs everywhere of the $3000 fine and they will still ignore them.

Maybe some better patrolling of the area by Rangers, may help towards educating/enforcing the situation at hand.

Andrew

Hi Mikee5,

Unfortunately we can’t out law stupidity and ignorance.
I Wish we could.

Hairs

There is a pedestrian gate right next door to the grid.

The grids also include a series of 'trip wires' when completed.

and I'd rather see more backpackers than latte sipping, champagne flute toting bus trips anyday. At least the backpackers have an 'island' experience.

"Unfortunately we can’t out law stupidity and ignorance"

If we could then the Govt would be the first. The cost of these fences is ridiculous. The damage done to the environment. Tremendous. The effectiveness of the entire deal Nil.

The grids are to be electrified but when questioned about the effect this might have on children the response was that they would just feel a slight tingle. Will this then deter a dog. I doubt it but I don't like the idea of putting children through the process.i

Quite apart from the sand filling the grids and falling away from the bottom of the fence the problems were never created within the residential areas.

The removal of the brumbies together with the loss of all small wildlife eg rodents etc, because the dingo numbers were allowed to increase beyond the capacity of the island, along with the backpackers and dune campers would seem to have been the root cause.

But you have to admit they (the EPA) have been seen to being doing something. Right or wrong it will be justified as cost effective and environmentaly sound.
Furthermore you had better like it because you paid for it.

Kevin J

Stuffed if i know why these fences are such big news. They have been around Kingfisher & Central campground for a while now. When they are electrified they do work keeping the dingoes out. Some smartass took the photo before they were electrified and the papers made a big thing out if it. Typical press, don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.
There was also a story of an old lady who got a chopper ride off the island after falling over when walking over the grid. Obviously not smart enough to use the gate beside the grid.
All the carryon about the environmental damage clearing for the fences, the damage is the same as if a new road was pushed through. Surely we don't want to ban roads on the island.
Don't believe everything you read in the papers.

from Marty.