Thread: Could this be the beginning of the "re-opening" of 4WD tracks

Originally Posted by Lucy

Which means that they have the key to the gate. Here in the NSW South Coast, during the last big fires, many of the locked tracks were in such poor condition, with downed trees, washaways etc, that the RFS couldn't get through! They spent more time fixing tracks and removing trees than fighting fires. That meant that the fires spread further than they needed to. A lot of tracks have also been closed by either a bull dozer building a big earth mound, or by a truck load of boulders being dropped across the track entrance - how do RFS get through these?

and thats the problem, had the Mt Airlie track been locked off around the time of the long weekend and then there need to be bushfire access then they wouldnt gotten through in a hurry, there were trees down from the strong winds the weekend before. Locking tracks off wont preserve them, it will only ensure they are grown over. Tracks need to be used regularly to maintain access. Even if NPWS worked with 4wd clubs they could keep them open. Matt

Originally Posted by TuffRR

True. Although once the track has been dozed, wombat holes dug and trees put across the track, access becomes somewhat more difficult!

Thats why they should be driving landrovers, none of that seems to effect me, I only stop for the locked gates, anything I can drive over is just a natural obstacle to be negotiated.

Agree with the theme of yes they have unlimited access in emergancies but how the hell do you get something down a track that hasnt been used in years.

if they really really want to, have a small yearly registration fee for an access pass and make it a requirement that anything a stock 4x4 would have to think about before crossing be reported so that it can be sorted..

use the proceeds to fund a process where clubs or training establishments can come in and do track clearing days as part of their thing... Seems to me that it would make a nearly ideal controled training environment for roadbuilding techniques, path clearing, and BBQ and camping.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

if they really really want to, have a small yearly registration fee for an access pass and make it a requirement that anything a stock 4x4 would have to think about before crossing be reported so that it can be sorted..

use the proceeds to fund a process where clubs or training establishments can come in and do track clearing days as part of their thing... Seems to me that it would make a nearly ideal controled training environment for roadbuilding techniques, path clearing, and BBQ and camping.

This is the answer, and i cant understand how NPWS hasnt seen this and tapped in on some free labour. Why not have an access to clubs type set up like they do with the spanish steps track on the newnes plateu. The track is locked off but the Blue Mountains 4wd Club manages the key, takes bookings and maitains the track. You book via the 4wd councils website, the BM 4wd Club contacts you, you give the details and then pick the key up from a business in lithgow. NPWS could do something similar and allow access to affiliated clubs. The tracks would be kept clear and people are allowed to use them. Matt

Originally Posted by Ace

This is the answer, and i cant understand how NPWS hasnt seen this and tapped in on some free labour. Why not have an access to clubs type set up like they do with the spanish steps track on the newnes plateu. The track is locked off but the Blue Mountains 4wd Club manages the key, takes bookings and maitains the track. You book via the 4wd councils website, the BM 4wd Club contacts you, you give the details and then pick the key up from a business in lithgow. NPWS could do something similar and allow access to affiliated clubs. The tracks would be kept clear and people are allowed to use them. Matt

The Parks & Forests belong to the people, not to clubs. If I don't want to become involved with club politics, that shouldn't stop me from taking my family camping to remote areas.

On bad tracks I always end up doing some track maintenance - and I don't even mind scouting out a bad track, then going back and spending a day getting through, making it servicable again. I think if there was a spirit of cooperation rather than different parties selfishly vieing ('spellcheck) for exclusive access we would have a much better situation. Ofcourse you'll get stupid drivers, but we don't close the Hume Highway off to trucks just because some drivers a stupid. Encourage people to cooperate and the nett effect will be positive.

Nobody wants exclusive access to the tracks, the ideas of doing it through the clubs is utilising a formal framework that is already in place, not because they want to limit who has access. Peoples thoughts are always going to be how to open up access as easily as possible, and how to administer it easily.

I'm not saying that it's the best or only way, it's a way of doing it. I agree about the club politics though, avery group that I know of seems to be plauged with political problems, from the Australian Air Force Cadets to military vehicle clubs, 4wd clubs, and even forums. It's not for everybody, and as you said, it shouldn't be limited to those groups.

Originally Posted by Michael2

Of course you'll get stupid drivers, but we don't close the Hume Highway off to trucks just because some drivers a stupid.

No, but you ban all P-plate drivers from V8s (including old Landies) because a few get themselves killed.

You take guns away from sporting shooters because a few people (usually non-shooters) kill others.

You take away crackers (fireworks) from the rest of us because of a few idiots.

etc.

Ron

and now after 350 years of record carol singing in a cathedral, the children of the choir have been banned from carrying lighted candles and been issued with light sticks due to the fear of some parents that their child hair may be set alight.

yet the previous 349 years not one case of child hair being set alight been recorded.

we should just trust Darwian theory of natural selection and let the morons remove themselves naturally from the human gene pool.

this way we merely preserving and promoting morons

Originally Posted by cartm58

we should just trust Darwian theory of natural selection and let the morons remove themselves naturally from the human gene pool.

this way we merely preserving and promoting morons

Damn Straight!