QLD National Parks Permits - Cape York

Sadly it has been going this way for last few years and the system seriously sucks.

National Parks do not "manage" the parks, the just look to keep people out. Less people = less work for same pay.

The irony is that these people expect people on holidays to have such a tight itinerary that they can prebook weeks in advance when they couldn't organise a chook raffle.

The 12 hour notification period of cancellation is also a joke, especially in remote areas where there is no phone/internet reception.

The extension of a proven flawed system to Cape York is just further evidence of the level of competence of NPWS IMHO....gggrrrrrrrrrrrr

How National Parks are managed was covered quite well in the thread about the Stockton protest. One of the 4wd Association delegates had his say and it was basically what I had heard from another delegate that I had heard. I know that thread was concerned with NSW parks so I would be interested to know if the same process is in place in Queensland. If it isn't then it should be. Interested stakeholders need to be represented and influence the policy not just beaurecrats whose life is easier if the place is locked up.

I've lost count of rain affected camping weekends, so with parks hopeless refund policy they expect me to keep burning the camp fees. So we balance the books by just not paying next time.

I was at a meeting for NP's Great Walks some years ago. A ranger told me over dinner that the $5.45 camp fee which was less then, was no more than the cost of counting visitor numbers for statistics. This in turn helped with management. Trouble is there figures are so inaccurate its no wonder management is similar.

Surely a Cape Pass would work better. First in best dressed. Numbers are a best guess which is no more than now. Works in the desert, works in Tasmania, just not in QLD apparently.

"Surely a Cape Pass would work better. First in best dressed. Numbers are a best guess which is no more than now. Works in the desert, works in Tasmania, just not in QLD apparently.[/QUOTE]

I totaly agree with the idea of a camp pass, as you say, it works in the Desert.
It's the same over there, you don't know when you get to a spot or how long you're going to stay there.

I was told last year approx 4300 people cross the Simpson each year. And to my thinking there are fewer routes across the Simpson than the Cape. And at a rough guess you'd get two deserts into the Cape.
But good old red neck Queensland introduce some book in advance system in an area with little phone coverage, hence little internet as well. Then install a pay at the door system that's not commissioned properly, in an area that has large amounts of rain. My guess it will be an ongoing waste of money.

I have tried several times over the years writing to Qld Parks regarding annual passes. All I get is an acknowledgement of letter, but no response or comment.