WA 4WDriving Standards - draft for comment
Submitted: Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 14:44
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Member - Trish&Craig(WA)
I would urge most people in WA who go out on 4WD trips, whether as a group of friends, or as members of a 4WD club, to visit the Outdoors WA webside and have a read of the draft Adventure Activity Standard for 4WDriving! It begs the question as to whether anyone who has ever done recreational 4WDriving has been consulted in this document.
http://outdoorswa.org . It is open for comment until about 14 November. You can register on the site for free and then read and post comments on the
forum. I suggest if you are in a 4WD club then collectively send a formal email or letter to Outdoors WA constructively expressing your
views on the clauses and make recommendations, etc. If we as a community group do not, then in its present form it will become the basis for policy formation and decision making by jurisdictions such as INSURANCE and LEGAL. There is no evidence as to who or what industry groups were actually part of the "consultative process" for this draft. After reading some of the requirements and recommendations; including definition and responsibilities of "trip leaders", registrations, accreditations, equipment, planning, competencies and responsibilities of individuals and clubs who partake in this leisure activity - it will either scare you off doing anything as a collective group - or else you will have to invest in a considerable amount of time for all the contingency planning and formalities. Some of it is 'par for the course' and would be already in place by most incorporated clubs, but some it is just so over the top it's ridiculous.
Please check it out ASAP.
Trish
Reply By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 15:53
Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 15:53
It has been my experience that most 4WD people wether individually or in groups just get out there and have fun driving,
camping, etc and don't go through any formal process wether legal or otherwise...most folks I know just go out there anyway and don't tell anybody. However IF you are a club or commercial interest then YES you may have a point of concern..BUT certainly if the authorities are not aware of your plans....then who cares...what they don't know, cant hurt them...but whenever we attempt to either individually or as a group or organisation attempt to obtain permission for such events/trips and apply to the authorities for their blessing it causes all sorts of grief...we open a real can of worms because of accountability, legalities,environment issues, etc, etc.....So what do we do...I don't really know...however I am constantly aware that as each year passes more and more people are buying 4WD's and motorbikes and such and effecting/damaging the environment both coastal and inland areas by driving,
camping, etc and soon there will be controls put in place to curb our use/opportunities to go "bush" and do this freely....it is happening with fishing!!!
Can we stop this from happening...I can't see how...as the environment needs protection from "us" wether we are doing the right thing or not.
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Follow Up By: Member - Trish&Craig(WA) - Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 16:37
Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 16:37
Agree totally Redbakk - who is going to police this stuff anyway? DEC certainly won't have the resources? It would be concerning however from a legal/insurance
view point say for someone from this
forum just posting a trek and inviting anyone to join - they immediately become a trip leader and - bingo - there is the can of worms!
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Follow Up By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 17:31
Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 17:31
"for someone from this
forum just posting a trek and inviting anyone to join - they immediately become a trip leader and - "
Good point...it makes you think....why would a ordinary person, just out of a sense of community, organize a outing and then only have one of the group, say for argument's sake, take a tumble, etc, etc, which may involve the authorities (ie..SES), injuries, medical treatment, an inquiry, a court case, legal action, insurance/compensation....exactly what you are saying....
No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions anymore...it has to be someone else's fault.
One has to be so careful today and the good intentions of
well meaning people is no protection at all!!!
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Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 16:59
Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 16:59
Trish it makes for amusing reading in many parts. Just love the eco dunny paper and not wearing brightly coloured clothing. Added my comments on their
forum awhile back.
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Follow Up By: Member - Trish&Craig(WA) - Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 18:04
Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 18:04
Yes Dunc, some of it is pretty amusing, and other stuff is just frightening - as a potential trip leader it would obviously help to have a law degree, a medical qualification and a crystal ball.
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Reply By: Mike Harding - Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 18:36