Stockton Beach Access Protest 2nd Feb
What about this theory...
NPWS close trails to force vehicles to use the main forest roads and create designated camping areas on the main road. They say it is to protect the environment so the general public think it must be for the best and don't dispute it. Then they say the area is getting too much use and introduce a fee to reduce the number of visitors. They continue to increase fees while benefiting from having a smaller area to patrol with less liability. The designated camping areas also allow the rangers to find you easily when they turn up at your tent at 6am and rudely wake you to collect their fee (yes this actually happened!). ;)