Googs Track Feedback

Hi Phill,
Its a two-edged sword

talking of "National parks not bothering" i meant signs are very few or non-existant (I missed the drums but maybe that was just me?), a few more signs wouldnt go astray.
Also the handout from Ceduna is outdated,

On the other hand they are a bit peeved off that "we" dont remove sticks etc if we use them on the track when we get bogged, and if it carries on they may shut. (A comment said to me from Kingoonya)

So its a bit of both, anyone using the track should look after it and maybe a bit more interest on National parks side wouldnt go astray either.

Next trip I do there will be deliberately helping clean up, just to prove not all users are idiots, and i reckon - even better - a few 4x4's together deliberately "cleaning up & advertising we care about a great track" might rub off on Parks too.

Besides, i might also find the camp chair we lost

Not made up, just impressions I got.
Regards
Lyall

We went through in October and the info centre at Ceduna were certainly discouraging towing. I think they have to take into account inexperienced people taking a track into the unknown.

The comment on sticks on the track puzzle me. Perhaps a suggestion that people need to lower tyre pressures to enjoy the experience would be more helpful. Sticks anywhere near the track can cause punctures. Sounds like the idiot factor has still be present.

We didn't find an absence of signs dissuaded us from anything, just realise you are in a remote area though and need to take care of yourself. Some friends doing the track a few weeks ahead of us made us more wary, perhaps than we need to have been.

Lyall, sounds like your camp chair you lost may already be someone's junk. I took a bike through on my rack.

Sorry Lyall,
I still think your criticism of "National Parks" is unfounded and unfair. Having spent time out there with these people, I respectfully say you've got the wrong end of the stick.

The DEH manage the Yellabinna Regional Reserve and Yumbarra Conservation parks. They are not just there for the tourists and 4wd enthusiasts. A considerable amount of DEH Resources go into managing multiple interests - in particular, keeping watch over the huge amount of mining activity that has been happening west of Googs Track.

In South Australia we have "Friends groups". You'll find a list of them HERE. These are groups of volunteers who do a lot of the work that the limited resources of the DEH can't do. I belong to a couple of these groups. You can get an idea of what we got up to on Googs track in august on this website.

We rarely close tracks in South Australia. I give a lot of credit to this because there is good dialogue and trust between the interested parties, and in particular the work of whats now called 4wdSA and their NRAU.

Instead of "starting a Campaign" feel free to provide constructive criticism, or better still join one of the many volunteer groups and help manage these areas.

Cheers
Phil

some fuel pumps have a swipe card on them to activate. it's rather difficult to get them to recognise the money when you swipe it in the credit card slot :)

i might be mistaken, but have seen these kind of pumps in a lot of smaller country towns all over the place. All of them have been unmanned pumping outlets so there isn't anyone to take the cash. Others have fixed price cards that you can pay for in varying ways and then you stick them into the pump to get your fuel.
It's a great way of providing 24x7 fuel service for low volume places. probably see a lot more of them in the future.

Try paying cash for a hire car at the airport!!

smaller towns like perth for example?

my local gull is pin number card only

Dio,
Greybeard has got it right. The fuel at Kingoonya is unmanned and owned by the Maralinga Tjarutja Community out of Ceduna. Swipe card access only - you type in a max amount, and it gets approval before the pump gives you the fuel.