QLD National Parks camp fire

[QUOTE=PhilipA;2377070]So I wrote to Queensland National Parks and got the nonsense answers below.

Good Morning Philip,

Thank you for your reply. The fire pits are not allowed as they are not fully enclosed. Where camp fires are allowed, use the fire places and fire rings provided.

SNIP

Phillip, you need to practice the fine art of rebellion (or perhaps is it protest). Don't ask for clarification as you attract attention, and you get no sense anyway. Just work on stealth, small and boutique, and ranger Stacy is in the bath by the time its dark. Practice leave no trace behaviour cause it's really easy. Just scatter the ashes being 100% sure they are extinguished. Then a sprinkling of dirt, some leaves, a few sticks, and hey presto it's looking better than when you arrived.

All that great information you received from NPs is rather contradictory. At Girraween NP on the LWE, Adolf the ranger strutted his patch checking the money, and making sure no one had a fire. However if they did than it was to be 30cm off the ground, have a tray or board under it, and it was OK to gas yourself on heat beads. It was also meant to be covered so to keep in the embers. Not sure if they have ever used heat beads, but there isn't any embers, and if you cover them then there isn't any heat either. Truly a typical bureaucratic idea from someone who stays in hotels. I have another story about that.
Anyway the ironic thing about all this is people had comindeared NP's own raised, open, wood powered BBQs and were trying to talk to Mars as it was 0deg. The embers flew, the flames raged, there was no lid, and they had heat the lucky buggers. The rest of us had poured 10Kg of heat beads into some sort of contraption, added a packet of fire starters and kicked off at at 3pm hoping for some sort of glow by 7pm. I can tell you there weren't many sitting around the old LED light laughing and enjoying each others company in the freezing dark. Not sure how Parks expect people to be happy with that. I was happy enough watching all the rabbits near our camps wishing I had a .22.
Also perculiur I did hear the chain saw giddy up Saturday afternoon from down the rangers accommodation way, but I guess thats different as their fire is indoors.

Unfortunately, Ranger Stacy works in Brisbane, either in head office, or protecting our local parks. The Rangers up north, from my experience in Darwin, are locals. Don't try to outsmart them, [or be a smartass] , it doesn't work. Get to know them, if you can. Let them know you are not a feral. You may get a better outcome. The further from head office, the more the rules may be more sensibly interpreted, depending on the attitude of the tourist in the equation. OR, you may get an ex Sgt Copper, in a mood, then it's best to keep your mouth shut. Bob

yes never a truer word Bob, Adolf ranger is a young blood full of policy and his new found power of governments big stick was fair up his ass. So one responds appropriately. However his older and I'd dare say more experienced co workers were vastly different. Realistic and relaxed perhaps are good descriptors, so one responds differently. Same on Fraser, the young southern rangers think it's their island, and think they are actually police. However a Northern ranger is a different deal.

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Originally Posted by bob10

Unfortunately, Ranger Stacy works in Brisbane, either in head office, or protecting our local parks. The Rangers up north, from my experience in Darwin, are locals. Don't try to outsmart them, [or be a smartass] , it doesn't work. Get to know them, if you can. Let them know you are not a feral. You may get a better outcome. The further from head office, the more the rules may be more sensibly interpreted, depending on the attitude of the tourist in the equation. OR, you may get an ex Sgt Copper, in a mood, then it's best to keep your mouth shut. Bob

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Very true,

In 2008 we were caught by Qld NP rangers in the Simpson NP (Munga Thirri) as we transited the Madigan Line.
The young rangers were ready to tear strips off us for being there - taking photos of number plates making notes etc. Luckily Don Rowlands the ranger from Birdsville was with them, once we had the chance to chat with him, reassure him that we had both his permission and that of Adria Downs to make the crossing all was OK - he remembered the email exchanges etc, the eager young rangers were still a bit of a worry and he virtually had to calm them to prevent our blood being shed.



Martyn

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Originally Posted by newhue

yes never a truer word Bob, Adolf ranger is a young blood full of policy and his new found power of governments big stick was fair up his ass. So one responds appropriately. However his older and I'd dare say more experienced co workers were vastly different. Realistic and relaxed perhaps are good descriptors, so one responds differently. Same on Fraser, the young southern rangers think it's their island, and think they are actually police. However a Northern ranger is a different deal.

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I've met some of those Northern Fraser Rangers, they're top people. :angel:

And they will happily write you the $569 fine for your open fire just as their southern colleagues will. Most of them appreciate that their day is more pleasant if the message they are giving to visitors is one of education as opposed to law enforcement. But there's only so much leniency and discretion that can be offered to some of the people that enter the Park and treat it so poorly.

Some of these Rangers have probably issued as many infringements to people failing to dispose of their toilet waste properly or driving on the dunes, as they have for fires.

I heard about one Ranger that was driving through one of the beach camping zones at 11pm one night to alert campers to an approaching wildfire when they happened across 4 blokes sitting around the metre high flames of their own open fire full of bush timber they'd broken off the nearby trees...totally oblivious to the small fire that had started downwind of their camp. The fines were well into 4 figures for their efforts.

Enforcing the legislation that protects our National Parks is not always an enjoyable part of the duties of Rangers, but it is necessary.

Happy camping folks.

Bell you are a Ranger yourself if I recall.
Yes your mate must be a good bloke allowing commercial fisherman to endlessly camp on the top of Frasier Island and net fish with boats and 4x4's in a National Park. Perhaps you could ask you Northern good bloke ranger to come on and explain why?

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Originally Posted by bell1975

Some of these Rangers have probably issued as many infringements to people failing to dispose of their toilet waste properly or driving on the dunes, as they have for fires.







Happy camping folks.

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Just wondering how they identify who the ****/crap belongs too............

newhue: PM sent (couldn't post what information I wanted to pass on to you as I'm still employed by QPWS...)

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Originally Posted by weeds

Just wondering how they identify who the ****/crap belongs too............

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They employ Sphincter Comparison Analysis Technology (SCAT)....:D (the SCAT detects striation marks like on a shell casing...)

Seriously though, when you're up and down the beach camping zones every couple of hours most days when it's busy, a fresh bunch of bush butterflies with accompanying, er, deposit stands out very clearly.

Personally, I'd love to see the day sooner rather than later, when all beach camping zones are portable toilet zones too.

It's an absolute no-brainer that camping zones with high visitation along with poor toileting practices are at distinct odds with minimum impact camping and caring for a World Heritage Area for the generations ahead of us.

Maybe one day there'll be a government that does what is right for the National Park and doesn't shy away from initiating what may at first be an unpopular imposition on people.

I've walked and climbed extensively in alpine areas of Tassie and NZ and it's no longer a weird thing to carry a poo tube in your pack as it was when these practices were first put in.

'Loving the place to death' is something that myself and more than a few of my colleagues have been known to utter as we climb back into the ute after dealing with yet another group of campers that have trashed a foredune with their 35" muddies or left toilet waste all around their camp or [insert offence of your choosing here].

As frustrating as the place could be at times I will miss it when I leave in a couple of weeks.

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Originally Posted by weeds

Just wondering how they identify who the ****/crap belongs too............

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Not sure why you think anyone should have to , Bob