General Chat

[Brad]

Wasn't this the stuff the Peter Ellard had been addressing?

[Paul Smith]

Hi All,

I just heard from Roger Pitt @ DSE. He has been kind enough to advise us to use the following email address to send our responses to the track closure proposals.

richard.wadsworth@dse.vic.gov.au

For those of you who are can't be bothered typing your own response feel free to copy and paste mine into an email to Richard.

PLEASE ALSO POST A COPY OF YOUR LETTER HERE TO GIVE OTHERS IDEAS OF WHAT TO POST.

Keep it civil !



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Richard,

Having had the opportunity to view the 20 proposed road and track closures in the North East region I am extremely disappointed in the reasoning given by the DSE to close tracks.

For the DSE to state that because a track has no operational purpose to the DSE that it should be closed completely ignores the fact that the majority of these tracks are of use and in use regularly by members of the public such as myself.

Furthermore my experience is that much of the works that the DSE do to rehabilitate tracks results in the the tracks being significantly easier for all vehicles to use. The DSE's removal of the challenging tracks results in significantly more traffic that we would otherwise get in sensitive areas.

By improving some of the tracks to a state where a high clearance 2wd family sedan could traverse them we have seen a rise in the proportion of high speed crashes because bikes and cars are able to travel significantly faster along the tracks that have been significantly improved by the DSE.

In many cases the lack of challenging tracks available to bush users pushes people who want a challenge to create their own. Although I don't support people putting in single track. We all know that whatever action the DSE takes to close single tracks and interesting 4wd tracks determined bush users will find a way around - creating more damage than the original track did.

Why not leave the challenging tracks in the network and mark them as so. A sign at each end of a track saying "Caution - Track in poor condition - Traverse With Care" would give a far better result for all concerned than simply closing it.

For example. The last group ride I went on in the Eildon area we organised a bush refuel jus so that we could ride No 5, Snob's No 6 and Second Creek Track as BECAUSE THEY ARE A CHALLENGE.

I am calling on the DSE take the actions indicated in brackets instead of closing the following tracks.

Rubicon/Eildon
Second Creek Track (Signpost and leave it alone)
No 5 Track (Signpost and leave it alone)
Snobs No 6 Track (Signpost and leave it alone)

Strathbogies Forrest
#1 Track (Close the surrounding unmapped tracks)

Goulburn Forrest
Abbots Creek Track (Signpost and leave it alone)

Black Range Forrest
Buxton Spur Track (The section of track is not in a plantation. Public Roads and Tracks tracks through timber leases DO NOT override the public right to use those roads and tracks).

Mount Disappointment
Track #2 (Leave it alone - The track is not a danger to anyone)
Poison Link Track

Track #6 (There is no evidence to support damage being done to the water supply by these tracks near the catchment area)

Track #7 (Put a sign at either end on the the tracks that have hazards and leave them alone.)

Sincerely,

Paul Smith
Member of AMTRA
Taxpayer and track user !

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[Peter r]

Come on Guys, if i can do it, SO CAN YOU!!!

[Serge C]

The Reply

Hi Serge,

I have had an offer from Paul Coffey (AMTRA) for AMTRA members to come out with DSE and do field inspections of the proposed closures and give a perspective from the dirt bike riders point of view.

I reckon this is a great idea, and will talk to the NE Trail Bike Project Officer (Felicity Wardlaw) when she gets back from holiday. I would expect we would be looking at mid November.

We will probably do the invite through the AMTRA President and he can then sort out which members would like to attend.

Regards



Richard Wadsworth
Statewide Recreation & Tourism Coordinator
Land & Fire Services
2/30 Prospect Street
Box Hill VICTORIA 3128
Ph:    +61 3 9296 4609
Fax:  +61 3 9296 4708

[Willbar]

Is it possible to do a online petition so we can show our club numbers rather than just a few sending a few emails possibly we could send in hundreds or signatures complaining ?Will

[Paul Smith]

AMTRA was assured by Richard Wadsworth that we would be contacted about any track closures and we volunteered to meet with the DSE on site to address any issues.


We had a ride at Eildon on the weekend and guess what ?

No consultation, no advice, nothing. The DSE have proceeded to block Second Creek track. They have bowled over dozens of habitat trees for birds and other wildlife in the process. The damage is appalling. The track is supposed to be open for use.

The DSE as a government authority would have had some moral ground had they actually followed their process before sending in the wheeled excavator (Keaths Excavations) to wreak they usual havoc.

From the Plan Document
DSE seeks written community feedback on the proposed road and single track closures contained in this Plan.
The proposed plan will provide the basis for the final Road and Single-Track Closure Plan for the North East Area.

When I read that second creek track was being closed because it was not longer required by the DSE we (AMTRA) asked the DSE to leave it as is and
simply signpost it as unmaintained. It seems more than a little convenient that after we put forward our reasonable request that there is all of a sudden an endangered frog in the area now. The frog (if it exists) could be avoided by bridging the creek.


I have seven questions for Roger and Richard.

1. Where is the consultation ?

2. Where is the advice that the tracks are being closed ?

3. Where is the science to back up the use of the track having any impact on the mysterious bullsh1t track closing frog ?

4. Where is your commitment to the needs of the whole community ?

5. How many submissions did you get requesting permanent closure and how many did you get requesting tracks stay open ?

6. Tell us how many tracks you've left open as a result of the community feedback that you have.

7. Do the DSE have any proof that turning tracks into highways makes them safer for anyone ?


Community feedback is meant to take into account the COMMUNITY. From where I stand this is a disgusting abuse of power by the DSE. I will be writing to every government minister requesting an explanation of this appalling situation.

[Mick]

I ride the Strathbogie Ranges lots and have led a few amtra members on rides with me and I really hope the track they are talking about closing stays open to bikes at least as it is a nice 10mins or so of riding it would be easy to build a crossing over the creek for bikes so that we dont upset the frogs or what ever is the problem, I will even give my time to build something there I reckon with a few people and hours work we could build a very strong bridge for bikes it is only 2 to 3 metres to cross it.

I have also seen the damage that the DSE has done to tracks in the Strathbogie Ranges area to close tracks off, many tree's have been pushed over and I am not talking 3 or 4 I am talking 30 or 40 big trees which has just seen the 4x4's and bike's make new tracks all around them when with a little more thought all the damage could have been kept to a min, they seem to have one law for them and another for the public, can you imagine what would happen to the public if we were caught cutting down that many tree's, I bet the greenies dont know the damage the DSE make, they have made more damage in 1 day in spots than 4x4's and bikes would make ever.


Mick.