Theory On Closed roads

Seasonly closed roads are closed so the track doesn't get damaged during the wet IMO.
Most tracks that are closed near me are roads that either you wouldn't get through in the wet without risking damage to your 4B(or you) or they are major fire routes(escape routes for locals) that you need in good condition at all times.
If the gate is locked shut don't go in or around.
If the gate is locked open by all means use it but be awere that most side tracks are restricted.

DSE havn't got the time to lock and check every track when rain is forcast so this is their solution.
Yes if its dry their fine but is it worth risking use of the track all together?

I can think of 6 tracks that are closed perminantly because of miss use during the closed season.(Motor bikes and 4x4s both responsible).

And now i'll hope off :soapbox:. Don't start me on the Brisbane ranges "Fungis" (no tracks open 24/7).

Cheers:alien:.

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Originally Posted by alien d2

Seasonly closed roads are closed so the track doesn't get damaged during the wet IMO.
Most tracks that are closed near me are roads that either you wouldn't get through in the wet without risking damage to your 4B(or you) or they are major fire routes(escape routes for locals) that you need in good condition at all times.
If the gate is locked shut don't go in or around.
If the gate is locked open by all means use it but be awere that most side tracks are restricted.

DSE havn't got the time to lock and check every track when rain is forcast so this is their solution.
Yes if its dry their fine but is it worth risking use of the track all together?

I can think of 6 tracks that are closed perminantly because of miss use during the closed season.(Motor bikes and 4x4s both responsible).

And now i'll hope off :soapbox:. Don't start me on the Brisbane ranges "Fungis" (no tracks open 24/7).

Cheers:alien:.

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That's a poor excuse for taking them away from us permanently! Fix them up and open them again! They belong to us, not to the DSE!

I do think that those who abuse the forest ought to be sorted out, but I don't think the rest of us should be penalised because of them.

Willem

Gotta av a say ere, eventually there will be nowhere you can off road except in designated parks that you pay to use.

this is because the majority of people are too lazy to stand up and be counted they would rather sit back and let someone Else do the talking

on a open forum I will say a closed track is just that closed....:angel:

some are justified and some are not...

prime example theres a track down the south coast which I love its now closed and locked with a gate that would not look amiss at fort Knocks
now me being me I got onto sholehaven council to inquire about the closure of this track 2 days later and hours spent on the phone I got an answer ......"I'm sorry sir we no longer have control of that area"
OK says I why not "OH we gave that back to the depatment of lands"
Oh says I why was that "well sir council could no longer afford the up keep" Oh says I in the last 10 years i havent seen any work done there
"well sir you better take that up with the department of lands"

So onto the the DLE we got, after days on the phone finialy got to talk to the head of department who was responsible for the gate...Oh I'm sorry sir yes it is a nice view up there but we just hav'nt got the resorces to manage that area..you can still walk there ......(.it would take days) its only closed to vehicular traffic....

days and days on the phone geting the run around for nothing....

untill the 4wheel movement become more vocal at local and federal level were stuffed like the shooters/hunters
ok rant over

It's no different over here. We have our share of greenies in govt dept's who honestly do think humans should be eradicated because they are hurting mother earth.

However there are a number of very popular tracks that are closed in the winter months because of the damage that might otherwise be caused. On at least a couple the local 4WD clubs have taken to working with DOC (Dept. of Conservation) and/or the local council to maintain them in exchange for continued access. Also makes a good excuse to get to the tracks when no one else is around :)

On one track, Stadia, several clubs banded together to build a cable gate to stop 4WDers from getting in and destroying the place, then driving up the main road leaving great clods of mud all over the road and creating a hazard. The reason for this is that while most of the track is on DOC land the entrance crosses private land and finishes in private land. To ensure continued access we must keep these various parties happy. Several times since then we have had to repair the cable (about 25mm steel cable) and the stanchions because people have variously tried to cut it, pull out the stanchions, drive over and through it,...

Councils have also started trying to block access to beaches, however at this stage the clubs have the rangers on their side because of the amount of work we do as volunteers on both the beaches and in regional parks.

You gotta do some work if you want to be taken seriously.

Alan

PS

This video is from earlier this year when we were doing some remedial work on one of the tracks while also having some fun out there.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgTJvG7WxuM"]YouTube - Maratoto 4WD run[/ame]

We now have an MOU with the ACT mob. Gives us access behind the locked gates. n return we will be maping the area and taking on some of the maintenance.
I don't agree with the lockit up as they don't have resources.

Well I'm of the opinion that we are our own worst enemies. Personally, I have no interest in driving tracks for the sake of it, although there is nothing wrong with that. If the resources aren't available, I think that is a legitimate excuse to close the track.

I'm getting to the stage of believing it's not a minority that spoil it for others, but the majority these days. Too many people living for today and devil take tomorrow. The amount of garbage that is found in popular places these days is astounding, and these are the places the majority visit.:mad: Is it any wonder we get locked out.

Oh, and FWIW, if the sign says closed IT'S CLOSED!

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Originally Posted by numpty

Well I'm of the opinion that we are our own worst enemies. Personally, I have no interest in driving tracks for the sake of it, although there is nothing wrong with that. If the resources aren't available, I think that is a legitimate excuse to close the track.

I'm getting to the stage of believing it's not a minority that spoil it for others, but the majority these days. Too many people living for today and devil take tomorrow. The amount of garbage that is found in popular places these days is astounding, and these are the places the majority visit.:mad: Is it any wonder we get locked out.

Oh, and FWIW, if the sign says closed IT'S CLOSED!

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Wow! :eek: But do we have to shout?

Willem

Warranted I thought.....but that's just me. 'twas really meant as a highlight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by numpty

I'm getting to the stage of believing it's not a minority that spoil it for others, but the majority these days. Too many people living for today and devil take tomorrow. The amount of garbage that is found in popular places these days is astounding, and these are the places the majority visit.:mad: Is it any wonder we get locked out.

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So who has the right to lock us out? Whose forest is it?

Now I have to make it clear that I firmly believe that we should care for the environment. We should do everything possible to make the world around us a better place. And I have no time for those who want to wreck and destroy.

But the forest belongs to all Australians. Not just the greenies. Not just the government departments. It belongs to all of us. Not just the bushwalkers who are fit enough to walk long distances. It belongs to all of us!

Therefore it is incumbent on government to make the forest available to all of us. Shutting it down just because its too hard for them to manage is not valid because it is removing from the people a facility that belongs to the people. That is not right!

We the people own the forest. The government's job is to make sure it is properly maintained and accessible to us.

Willem

There are often very valid reasons for tracks being closed off. Something that's perhaps not heard of in the east is Jarrah dieback. One of the more common ways of spreading it is on the tyres of vehicles, so in areas prone to the disease, tracks are closed.

Now I'm not naive enough to say that's the only reason tracks are closed, but sometimes they are closed with the best interest of the environment, which ultimately is in our best interests too as it ensures the long term sustainability of the forest.