Thread: QLD National Parks camp fire

I tell you what weeds, the girls could do with some educating about stashing the ol pat it paper. Stuff is stashed behind every bush, rock, or bollard almost. They don't bother to burry it, burn it, or take it. It may well decompose, but sure is unsightly.

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Originally Posted by weeds

Er....... he said they fine people for ****ting in the woods.....unless they are hiding in the bushes how do they actually know who did the crap.

Sadly, I've seen hundreds of piles of turds over the years I worked on the island, mostly with the associated piles of paper around them.

In a lot of cases these were within 5 metres of someone's tent, swag, etc. It's pretty obvious when you check their camping permit - the turds have either been there longer than their tent has or they're 'fresher' and likely to have been from the camper/s whose tents are next to the turds.

It takes less than 2 minutes to get the shovel off the ute, dig a hole next to the turds and scrape them in. So that's what you do. Just mind how clean that shovel head is when you slot it back under the tray though.

"What's that smell?" [sniffs hand] "Arrrrghhhhh"....

Dealing with this sort of thing and also some of the nudists that you wish you hadn't seen are two things I won't miss...

Fires on the Cape and now turds in the dunes...there's not much hope of this thread making it back onto topic! Sorry folks, I like to try and balance some of the negative views I read about Rangers. And I fully accept that we've all had different experiences in our NPs across the country and met some people in uniform that don't do the badges they wear justice.

Bell I'm not sure what the answer is. As a kid I recall camping at Carnarvon Gorge NP. There were some Aboriginal Rangers there who took us on night spot lighting walks. They had slide shows at night, and seemed to have the time to mingle and educate. Perhaps that was above the call, or it may have been paid, or just right person in the right job. But as a kid they were definitely part of installing my love of the bush, and the animals that make it.

Nowadays, and from over the years participating in camp site monitoring programs. Attending Great Walks development work shops, and being an active user of NP on foot, kayak, mountain bike, or by car; I find I have slowly been shut out or restricted. To the point I am not really sure what they are for anymore. I have through experiance become cynical of the agency. It's seems more about money first and foremost, than managing these great NP's.

I do think as Chenze mentioned before, some local blokes driving lines, just being out there more would be great. But have the time and knowledge to stop and mingle and be proactive towards loving the outdoors. Instead, for example, on average 4500 people cross the Simpson each year with very little input from Parks besides the info centre in Birdsville, or checking camp permits at Dalhousie Springs. Any learning is done is by ones self, and many people make mistakes or haven no idea. On the beaches yes you can get a conversation out of a Ranger, but generally they seem more interested in just checking permits firstly, then a quick scout for fire evidence and loose turds. Well that has been my experience mostly.
You guys try and manage the resource with what you have, but very few away from the coal face care enough to let the job be done well.

As I said way back at the start. We get what we pay for.
I think it's not about more fines, fees, less freedom, and web based education. Money would be far better sent from seeing and hearing from people standing in front of you who have the time to really care. I also think I'm just a dreamer.
I wish you well in your new endeavour. Perhaps one day I will run into you on some peak somewhere, where freedom is at it's best, and rules and regs are at their least.

I don't know what the situation is like in Qld, but in NSW the NP budget is being slashed along with most everything else, and theres more bull**** paperwork to go with it. The end result is less people in the field and more time spent in the office, making sure someones arse is covered.
Net result - lack of morale, disenchantment with the job, lack of people on the ground. The closer to the head office you are probably the greater the affect.
Add the flavour of government where labor are more likely to add NP estate (but no staff to manage), then the libs come along and cut budgets and staff further.

A friend of mine who is a long time NSW ranger has just put his hand up for voluntary redundancy - he's had enough.


Martyn