Thread: 100's of Klms.Track closures

That post is a bit harsh, most of us dont live in NSW and those that do may not know about the proposed closures or even if they did how or where to comment. Usually in these cases a decision has already been made and public comment is just a formality.
Degrading people on a forum is a great way to get people on side, not.

Hi

This is a complex issue, NPWS are getting resources cut continually, idiots can easily buy a 4wd and put massive mud tyres on it and the ads on TV show them how to drive "offroad" (i.e. as fast as possible)

I doubt ringing your MP will do much, when they are cutting every cost in sight, why would they give a **** about a few whinging 4WD drivers.

Not sure about down south but the Hunter Region 4wd council works with the NPWS to repair tracks etc.

Apart from working with the NPWS I am not sure there is much which can effectively be done, it's impossible to catch the ******* who do the damage though education may help a little

Steve

hi Frank

quick question how are the VBFB going to get on if there is a fire in the NP ?

As has happen with other areas which have been closed off, they let it burn.
The reason is no one is able to see all the burnt wild life if they cannot get in the see it, can they.
Also if the fire crews have no safe escape they just don't go in the place.
I know the last time I did from Dry creek to Bendeathra(2 years ago) the road had just been graded and in very good condition.
What I did notice the road surface was very smooth and made of very fine dust which was slippery even though the roads and weather was very dry.
I did the run though to Bendeathra in very good time.
I couldn't help wandering at the time what would happen the road with the next rain storm because of the surface.
I notice every time I do a circult around Bendeathra or surrounding tracks I usually come across a bulldozer parked some where and new road activity.
Yes may be the National Park clowns should look at the way they are doing things, as when the state forests/crown lands had the place they didn't have much trouble with the roads they put in.
I noticed when roads get closed by the N/Ps in the timbered areas of the NSW coast they become close to the fire vehicles when needed due to fallen trees and over growth which normal public vehicle use people tend to clear.
The tracks still erode in time if used or not by the public.
The roads must be repaired with run off gutters correctly done and the surface compacted.
A good example I can think of is the last bush fires at Yalwal (wombat flat) where the road from Deans gap road to the creek at Wombat flat was graded/dozed for fire tank access and the road up to Yarramumum FT.
It is now in a poor state for a fire tanker as the storms after the fire washed all the good work away as not one gutter for run off was done at the time.
The only time the National Parks really care about fire is if private property is under threat and they could be sued or if the damage is plain for the public to see.
I wonder if the road they closed from Snowball on the Cooma /Braidwood rd to near the top of the Dampier Mt years ago is still passable for a tanker truck.........I would think it closed itself with fallen trees and lack of use...........its Ok no one there......it can burn and the public cannot see the weeds, burnt trees and vermin if they cannot get in.

Hi tank,

Well strong words, but a mite misguided I think. The NPWS can conduct temp track closures at any time, what they cannot do at the drop of a hat is change the park specific Management Plan without public consultation. In this case they are reacting to what they perceived to be damage caused by 4wd owners towing camper trailers on tracks marked - no trailers. Without enforcement this is just another dud law.

The dumb thing is that their bulldozer, excavator solution is causing more problems when heavy rain, which the area is renound for, wash away the fixes they put in place! NP is trying to remediate tracks to such an extent that you won't need a 4wd to visit, in order to remove liability should one of the camper towing bde head for a lawyer when things go wrong.

The temp closure is exactly that, and my local parks office has promised to advise our local 4wd clubs when it is going to open again. Just because people don't post their life in social media does not mean things are not happening.

Oh, and if you check the list of people/groups that responded to the last time the Deua National Park management Plan was socialized you will find all ACT 4wd clubs submitted comment. Something lots of other more local clubs did not.

Sure, let's have a chat with local reps and NP offices, but make sure you understand what the issues are and then what action is reasonable given the issues. If however this proves to be more permanent, then I will join you at the demonstration!

Toad.

Toad, first up thanks for replying, seems sometimes harsh words are called for.
In this case it is NOT Temp closures but after dozer work is completed they are talking PERMANENT or Seasonal Closures to 4WD's, to, in NPWS words to allow roadworks to settle, so that Fire trucks can get through.
My point is this, BEFORE the latest round of dozer work there was no problems traversing Mongamulla FT (which leads to a number of private properties), the road is very steep but neither I or my friends ever had to be towed due to loss of traction.
Now take that same track and spread 6" of crushed sandstone over the top and not compact or roll it in and you have a track that is almost impassable, 4Wd'ers didn't cause this problem, NPWS did and they then blame 4WD's for tearing up the 6" of rubble that they put there, it's like trying to drive on ball bearings. Imagine if the RTA built a road out of gravel and didn't add tar or compact it down, it would be undrivable, same scenario here.
Last time I drove Mongamulla there were no other tracks on this rubble, except for the dozer tracks. With Fat tyres, let down to 16psi and front and rear diff locked in and driving at just above idle (Auto) I had trouble from the very start, I only just made it to the first Eco Drain, Allan (VNX-205) only got half way, from where I winched him up to the Eco Drain. Even standing on this 6" of rubble was hard work, it was damp under the surface but the original surface of the track was as hard as concrete, as it was before the dozing, Why if you have a good hard surface to grip on would you put a layer of loose rubble over the top.
Naturally when you drive on this crap you are going to lose traction until you get down to the original hard surface. So when you get to the top it looks bad because there are tyre grooves through the rubble.
So NPWS are blaming us for destroying the track, the original track is still there under the rubble, it is only the loose rubble that was put there by NPWS that gets chewed up. I would hate to be one of the private property owners trying to get out in front of a fire.
This is the first step in closing Bendethra, they have already stated that once the 3 drop toilets are full they will not be replaced, this area gets a few thousand campers at peak holiday periods, can you imagine the crap paper streamers that will be around when that happens, another reason to shut the park.
I will post some pics of the rubble on these tracks, http://www.aulro.com/afvb/nsw-act-re...ough-deua.html Post#2, please let me know what you think, or any suggestions, Regards Frank.