Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011 at 11:38
Bugger the link didn't work.
Here is the letter
14 September 2011
District
Ranger – Desert Parks
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
9 Mackay St
Po Box 78
Port Augusta SA 5700
Dear Tony,
Re: Wood Fires in Witjira National
Park
On behalf of 4WDSA, I would like to provide some feedback to your letter dated 3 August 2011.
As with many issues in society, the Association recognises that the irresponsible actions of a few
can have a lasting adverse impact on the vast majority and the 3 O’clock
Creek example cited in
your letter is a clear abuse of the use of a scarce natural resource.
The Association actively supports the responsible use of all natural resources and the use of wood
fires for the purposes of heating and cooking in an area where, perhaps, the general public is lacking
in education and understanding.
Whilst the Association sympathises with the problem currently faced by the Witjira Comanagement
Board in their efforts to manage a dwindling resource, the Association does not
support the long term banning of wood fires in Witjira National
Park. However, a ban on the use of
locally sourced timber is fully supported by the Association. The Association is of the view that a
blanket ban on the carriage of firewood through the
park is excessive and will have a significant,
and potentially adverse, impact on activities beyond Witjira.
Why do we need / want
camp fires?
Fire is one of the basic essentials for our survival on this planet. Whether it be for warmth, cooking,
light, or a sense of security, humans need fire. There are very few, if any, environments on the Earth
where humans can survive (over the long term) without it.
The campfire has become an Australian icon for those who choose to travel our great Outback and
of course, is used primarily for warmth in the cool of the evening and cooking at both ends of the
day. While there may be alternate fuels for cooking, the wood fire provides an efficient source of
Page 2
heat in a communal setting. For many travellers, both from Australia and overseas, fellowship to be
had at the end of a day on the road is part of the attraction for outback travel.
A blanket ban on all fires could
well act as a deterrent for many travellers as they seek alternative
options for combining
recreation and camaraderie. While the current policy is not a blanket ban for
all areas, the prohibition of carriage of wood through Witjira will have a similar effect for those that
plan to travel into the
Simpson Desert Regional Reserve or the
Hay River Track.
Sourcing fuel for cooking and warmth
The Association acknowledges that an increase in the number of people travelling some of the most
popular
routes has had an impact on the availability of suitable wood in the immediate vicinity of
the roads and tracks and agrees that we need to find alternative sources. Clearly, the use of
plantation sourced wood is the sustainable option and we need to find a way to make this a practical
choice. A further alternative is the use of “ECO Logs” or similar products. Certainly the logistics
of getting sufficient quantities to the right areas might be a challenge – but is this a challenge worth
pursuing?
The ban on collecting wood in the Witjira National
Park is fully supported and it is recognised that
it could be difficult to determine the source of wood in transit. However, bans on the collection of
wood are in place in other Parks where there is an inherent onus on any person carrying wood to
reasonably show from where this came and this appears to operate satisfactorily. We believe that
this onus could be publicised and explicitly required. For example it would be difficult to source
mallee stumps or sawn red gum within the
park and most imported wood for transportation would
be controlled by availability of space in the vehicle.
Bio hazards associated with carrying firewood through Witjira
While we understand that wood sourced from outside of Witjira may contain
pests and diseases we
challenge the inherent risk to biodiversity on the grounds that there would be minimal possibility of
contact between wood in transit and the native species in the
park if it remains in transit, and any
such wood if sourced close to the
park is likely to have similar
pests and diseases to those already in
the
park and
pests and diseases on wood from further away are less likely to be ecologically capable
of surviving
the desert environment. If research findings have highlighted any specific risks these
should be specifically addressed rather than by a blanket ban.
Education
In recognising that the use of campfires is appropriate in the right circumstances we, jointly, need to
find a way to ensure responsible use by all. While legislation and policing is one way to ensure
compliance to an agreed set of standards, unless the penalties are severe and draconian they may
provide little incentive for compliance.
Most four wheel drive clubs within the Association operate within a set of by laws supporting their
Constitution that clearly define things such as fire use, control and various restrictions that apply –
including wood collection.
Page 3
The most cost effective method of “control” is through education with the key focal points being:
? Source of fuel, and
? Using that fuel responsibly:
o Keep size of fire a small as practical (and no larger than 1m in diameter)
o Ensure that fire only used when required
? Bio Hazards of carrying wood through sensitive environmental areas
? Fire ban periods
Clearly, this “education” will require a large publicity effort but no more than that effort associated
with the proposed bans. Although the Association does not represent all of the travelling public, we
would be more than willing to assist with promotion and would actively support activities such as
working bees for
signage erection. We may also be in a position to modestly fund some
signage
within
Park.
Problems with Policing
How will the eventual agreed regulations be policed? Clearly, the policing of rules, even a blanket
ban can difficult to implement and police. The current proposal is a ban on one part of the greater
area colloquially known as “The Simpson”. However, the intent of the current proposal is to
specifically target The Witjira National
Park. Are all travellers aware of the
boundary between the
two named areas? Probably not! Again the resolution comes back to education, appropriate
publicity and ultimately active policing.
As suggested earlier, the possession of species that clearly could not have come from the vicinity of
Witjira should not constitute an offence. However, the distinction between the source of a,
potentially, “local” species is not so clear. The Association would welcome the opportunity to
discuss options and strategies that will provide clear guidelines and unambiguous direction to those
responsible for ensuring compliance.
Conclusions and recommendations
The Association acknowledges that the Witjira Co-management Board has identified a significant
issue and is looking for ways to deal with both the real and potential problems associated with
sustainable management of the Witjira resources and environment. However, the Association does
not support a blanket ban on the use of fire in Witjira. Furthermore, the Association does not
support the ban on the carriage of wood through the
park and submits that the risks associated with
such a practice are minimal.
Page 4
In response to the proposals in your letter, the 4WDSA Association recommends the following:
1. Fires fuelled by locally source timber be banned in Witjira; however, cooking fires and
fires used for warmth continue to be allowed within the national
park using sustainably
sourced fuel,
2. Collection of firewood from within the Witjira National
Park be permanently banned,
3. Carriage of firewood through Witjira be permitted, and
4. An extensive education and publicity program be conducted on the responsible use of
fires for cooking and warmth.
AnswerID:
467423