Simpson Desert Summer Shutdown

[one_iota]

Desert danger forces outback shutdown - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/11/2416773.htm)

[Scallops]

Desert danger forces outback shutdown - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/11/2416773.htm)

Wonder if I'll get a part refund on my SA Desert Parks Pass?:p

Makes sense though - I saw the temp in Birdsville a week or so ago was 40 odd degrees - who would want to be out there (and beyond) then?

[weeds]

Wonder if I'll get a part refund on my SA Desert Parks Pass?:p

well it is an annual pass

[Scallops]

well it is an annual pass

I'm happy with a pro rata refund! :p

[mark2]

I don't know why anyone would want to be out there in summer either, but to me, its just another example of the 'nanny state' in action.

I'd prefer to be able to make my own decisions on where I go, and when, rather than have the government make them for me.

[Scallops]

I don't know why anyone would want to be out there in summer either, but to me, its just another example of the 'nanny state' in action.

I'd prefer to be able to make my own decisions on where I go, and when, rather than have the government make them for me.

True - but as the article suggested - there are a lot of muppets in this world that would head out there unprepared - then someone else has to rescue them.

[mcrover]

He says temperatures often reach 50 degrees Celsius, making the region especially dangerous for tourists from overseas.

"[They are] often in a hired vehicle, with very limited four-wheel-driving experience," he said.

"No real concept of the enormous distances involved and the difficulties that are encountered in driving in desert conditions."

Whats to say they can read a sign that says that it is closed.......:o

I know that we can put signs in front of a golfer and it is just a sugestion to what he is to do and not what not to do, I have seen that with a lot of OS visitors (that this is aimed at) have the same attitude...."that doesnt apply to me as Im not from here"...:eek:

It will save a few though im sure but it wont stop all.

Im sure if you asked the question you would get permission to travel if you really really wanted to but most Aussies who are into that sort of thing are quite a wake up to not traveling during the hotter times anyway.

Just another way the Government is fighting Darwinism :D

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I don't know why anyone would want to be out there in summer either, but to me, its just another example of the 'nanny state' in action.

I'd prefer to be able to make my own decisions on where I go, and when, rather than have the government make them for me.
I have to agree, where is the evidence of all the foreign tourists succumbing to the elements in the Simpson to warrant total closure over 25% of the year?

More people die in ultralight and skydiving incidents than die in the SD, so why pick on us!

Diana

Addit:
Whats to say they can read a sign that says that it is closed.......:o

I know that we can put signs in front of a golfer and it is just a sugestion to what he is to do and not what not to do, I have seen that with a lot of OS visitors (that this is aimed at) have the same attitude...."that doesnt apply to me as Im not from here"...:eek:

It will save a few though im sure but it wont stop all.

Im sure if you asked the question you would get permission to travel if you really really wanted to but most Aussies who are into that sort of thing are quite a wake up to not traveling during the hotter times anyway.

Just another way the Government is fighting Darwinism :DPerhaps it is the revenue possibilities they are after. In SA in the 1970's it was $100 per tyre for travelling on a closed road, the fine was enough to put a road train owner into bankruptcy.

[JDNSW]

It is certainly not the most pleasant place in summer, but I worked there for nearly two years in the mid sixties, working twelve months of the year.

I remember there was one period of about two weeks when the temperature remained above 40C even at night, although mostly it cooled down at night. And I would point out that we were living in tents, and none of the vehicles had airconditioning.

But we had a fairly large organisation to back us up, and we knew what we were doing (well, mostly). As far as I can recall there was no lost time due to heat stress, and certainly neither deaths nor medical evacuations.

I can see why they want to do it - although I am not too sure whether it can be made to work - anyone who really wants to will do it anyway (I don't think there are fences and gates - and even if the roads are gated, anyone with a GPS can easily drive round them out of sight), and nobody will know they are there. Which makes it a pretty silly idea.

John

[incisor]

Which makes it a pretty silly idea.
John
could not agree more..

[solmanic]

I'd prefer to be able to make my own decisions on where I go, and when, rather than have the government make them for me.

Well, maybe... but the taxpayer in me says I don't want to foot the bill for all the numnuts tourists who may not be so adept at making this type of seemingly straightforward decision.

[mark2]

Well, maybe... but the taxpayer in me says I don't want to foot the bill for all the numnuts tourists who may not be so adept at making this type of seemingly straightforward decision.

I dont want to foot the bill for them either. But why do we so readily accept that banning access is the only solution?

The thing is, there are lots of places we like to go that are potentially dangerous and/or remote.
Why dont we just ask the government to ban access to everything that fits this category?

Far more money would be spent on searching for, and rescuing boaties from offshore incidents.

[JDNSW]

I doubt whether search costs had a major impact on the decision - it is, I think, simply that as it is a national park, the government is responsible for anything that happens in it, and they do not want to be responsible for a tragedy. (Possibly an element of protecting themselves form insurance claims, although I doubt it) Probably also means they can cut down on overtime over the summer, and the national parks people probably don't want to be out there in summer either.

But it all fits into the philosophy of protecting people from themselves that seems to be the modern way of doing things, although in this case the number of people affected would be pretty small - very few would want to go there in summer anyway, so the political cost is negligible. Unlike boating, where there are very large numbers involved, so any restrictions on activity would affect a lot of voters - and worth noting that they can't even enforce the rules on the harbour anyway, let alone everywhere a boat can be launched or moored.

John

[Greylandy]

Sensible or over protective first world beaurocrats?

Too risky: Simpson Desert closed for summer - News - Travel - smh.com.au (http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/too-risky-simpson-desert-closed-for-summer/2008/11/13/1226318795307.html)

[Rosco]

It seems to me no one in their right mind would go there during this period anyway.

[Basil135]

"There's been a number of near misses and we have had deaths in past years in the northern parts of South Australia in relation to overseas tourists who are not experienced and are ill-prepared for the conditions,"
:nazilock:
"This high risk also extends to emergency personnel who are called out to help stranded visitors."

Says it all to me. Ill prepared, overseas visitors getting lost or breaking down & putting others at risk. :mad:

Dunno about you, but I would prefer a Canberra winter to a Simpson summer...

[Shonky]

Yep second that. It's beutiful and all, but 45 degrees? Stuff that! Go in Autumn!

[leeds]

Well as mad tourists who has just got out of the Simpson travelling from Birdsville to Mount Dare, Jon and I had a great time.

The crossing was fun due to a sand storm, which made finding one of the tracks entertaining, but a decent GPS system with moving map solved that one. Yes newly blown sand created the occassional problem but they were overcome.

Following the sand storm we had heavy rain which put a nice crust on the newly blown sand which was fine until you broke through crust.

The more entertaining part of the trip was Mt Dare to Finke. Lets say the rear axle locker earned its keep and the winch was used. That part of the trip was technically harder then the Simpson. The average hire 4 x 4 would not have made it in the prevailing road conditions.

I pity any hired 4 x 4 travelling around the Mt Dare region at the moment.


What I would suggest is a flexible closure system. Lots of rain, salt pans flooded/impassable, close the road. Sand storms ditto due to navigation problems. High temperature and other conditions good then leave it to the driver to decide. Flexible closure means you can close the road during winter IF conditions warrent it.

Regards

Brendan

PS Quick discussion with Jon is another valid reason for closing road is to protect and preserve the desert. This again could be done on a variable basis as well

[Rosco]

..........Lots of rain, salt pans flooded/impassable, close the road. ........

Glad you had a top trip Brendan. Your comment above is already in place, and has been for quite a while. Unfortunately not all Euro tourists have your obvious level of nous and tend to make some ... shall we say less than intelligent decisions out there , as do some yobbo Aussies, albeit they seem to be in the minority.

Cheers

[Roverray]

What about the "numnuts" Aussies that do silly things and get stuck...or "not so silly" things and still get stuck? Is it OK to foot the bill for them? :D;)

Honestly, I don't see how they can even hope to police this. Closing the park in summer will stop OS tourists that are using hire vehicles, as the hire places will not hire out to them if this is stated as the destination. If the hire compant doesn't ask.........

No-one can keep travellers out. I think it's more a case of the sensible ones just won't go....

Its all about personal responsibility really is it not? A trait not as well developed in Y Gen and more recent if what we are told is correct.

Where do you draw the line on protecting people from themselves? -- complete a competence / awareness test before being allowed to proceed on some treks, tracks?? or you must tag along on organised trips.
In most cases it is a sheer lack of awareness of risks and dangers or just no judgement skills like many young drivers.

Its a bit like the sign at the lion park entrance --
Families per car - $10
Pommies on pushbikes - Free

[vnx205]

Some people obviously expect to be able to go where they want whenever they want with whatever vehicle they have.

A couple of years ago the track in to Owen Springs NP near Alice was marked on maps (and probably still is) as a 4WD track.
In spite of that a large number of people left comments in the visitors book suggesting, asking or demanding that the track should be graded to remove the corrugations.
What did they expect on a 4WD track? Bitumen?

I left a comment suggesting that the track should be left as rough as possible near the entrance to deter non-LR drivers. I thought the large amount of money needed to bring the road up to softroader standard could be better spent on other things.

People need to do some research and think about their capabilities, their vehicle's capabilities and the conditions they are likely to meet.

Here endeth the sermon.

:p or should that be :angel:


PS Owen Springs is well worth a look if you are out that way (and own a LR).

[Chucaro]

I agree that have to be do something about the idiots but I am worry about big brother start ruling our lifes too much.
I just wonder if they are going to stop bushwalking on the South West of Tasmania next :eek:
It is a can of worms:(