How to open a can of worms

**Col.Coleman** · 13th May 2008, 10:17 PM

In an upcoming trip I posted about traveling the old coach road and 7 mile diggings it seems some of you guys have been informed that the road is closed. Myself and several others who frequent the area on a regular basis travel this road and area quite often and not encounter such problems. Now for the fun bit.
As I do when presented with information contrary to what i hold as true, I investigated by checking web pages and phoned the information centre at Nanango. I do not like to make a statement unless I know it is correct. Upon talking to the visitor centre the information was that indead the road has officially been closed, but, the only place you can get this information is if you read the first web page of the nanango shire web page and scroll to the bottom or if you phone to inquire about a permit.The other web pages actively promote the area as a tourist activity.
On the road itself there are no signs, the permits have been in place for 3 years and the road has been closed for 6 months. But, everybody still goes through there anyway. Hell the farmer even waved hello last time through earlier this year. The road is gazetted as a public road and with the council amalgamations it has not been maintained and is now considered dangerous and that is why it is closed. To get it open the council needs to be lobbied as they have no interest in spending money on it at this stage.
So being officially closed but not signed as such, what happens now? Now I know it is closed, intentionally travelling the road what position would I be in? I don't think it would be tresspassing as it is not on private property being gazetted a public road. Even being closed, not being signed as such how are you supposed to know, and who can fine you and how much? The farmer still uses it to access his property and everyone else seems to use it too. I much preferred it when I didn't know and thought it was open. We have still driven it and don't consider it dangerous so what do we do now? If once you pass a sign (if it was there) what laws are you breaking and what has to be posted to make sure people are informed? If you stumble in and damage yourself or vehicle, what then. This is one big headache.
It is not officially open but it is still used anyway.
Yes we need to lobby the new South Burnett Council to open it, but fixing it will probably take all the fun out of it anyway.
Where to from here?

CC

**cookiesa** · 14th May 2008, 11:54 AM

Can it be reclassed as 4wd only track and a local 4x4 club maintain it?

**Col.Coleman** · 15th May 2008, 10:48 AM

Have yet to enter into the joy of tracking down the person in the council I would need to speak to to get an answer on what is going on with the road, why the decision was made and future plans. As soon as I have a few spare weeks I'll look into it.
It has been designated 4wd only for as far as I can remember and is in guide books and web pages everywhere.
My main concern is, if locals and people who go to travel the road do so, what happens if something goes wrong? The only information you get to tell you is if you are organising a trip for a group and actually phone to get a permit. I didn't even know a permit system existed for that road until recently, nor did 95% of the locals. It is not signed as such, the visitor informations centre says that some-one has pinched the signs. The road closed sign on the south end was put there by the police because of people getting stuck on that end.(they told me themselves). Drive from the Nanango end and nothing. Apparently now even the south end sign is gone.
so a couple of points really.
1; it needs to be opened again
2; who knows it is closed and proper information is posted
3; if you travel the road what fine will you get
4; This is all a question of liability and money as stated in my upcoming trip report.

Has anyone else had a similar problem with tracks or roads in their area. It only keeps out the law abiding people anyway. I will travel a road or track until a legitimate sign or information tells me otherwise, but this situation is down right confusing.

CC

**harry** · 15th May 2008, 05:11 PM

i did say it was closed.
now as a responsible road user and club member i choose to not drive it.
chasing the council will most likely result in no repair of the road, as repairing it and opening it will only attract more users, some of them may be driving 4wd vehicles and they will be blamed for deteriation of the road following repair, thus necessitating further repair -
which is why the road is closed [because the council has chosen to not repair it due to it being used and then needing repair]
and around in a circle we go again.
however, if you do decide to try it on, good luck,
but i think you are wasting your time.

**Col.Coleman** · 15th May 2008, 10:57 PM

Yes you did, however we had still been travelling the road every three or four weeks and never even new. Didn't even know about the permits. As I said now I do know, I won't as I don't want to be one of those who think they can just drive wherever they like. Shame as it was a lot of fun up there.
Chasing someone in a council is a waste of time as they are set up for time wasting and buck passing, and the big loser here is the locals in tourist dollars and access. With fuel prices going up all the time the regional towns will be even harder hit. But councils know best

Oh well, mums place backs on to Yarraman Forest so that will have to do.

CC

**twitchy** · 16th May 2008, 05:20 AM

Just take ya worms & go fishin', cause less trouble.....

**Redback** · 16th May 2008, 06:56 AM

When talking to council there's a lot of

and finally

Baz.

Thread: How to open a can of worms

Thread Tools

How to open a can of worms

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions