4wders. Are they all bogans?

[Buddy]

Having been a passionate greenie and bushwalker all my life, and a 4wdriver for a lot of it, as well as being on the 4WD Tas committee and 4WD Australia committee, couldn't leave this one alone. There has been quite a bit of reasonable discussion here, as well as a few inaccuracies.
It was interesting being a greenie at the rally in Smithton as there was some anti-green sentiment, but most of the speakers were very reasonable, there were only a couple that made idiots of themselves in my opinion, by ranting and raving. The others argued coherently and sensibly about the need for access for all, for places for kids to play and prove themselves, for traditional access, and for the need for the government/Parks to work with the community to manage areas like this.
One of my biggest bugbears and the reason I was at the rally is the absolute disregard that the government/Parks has for all the work put by volunteers into identifying options and solutions to the problems. Volunteers have spent untold hours and money working towards solutions, as well as hardening and rerouting tracks, fencing, educating, looking after the place, but it is ignored and the gates shut. The track to the Pieman River would be an iconic 4WD destination if it was managed properly, and that wouldn't be that hard, it just has to happen!
One of the other thing that really annoys me is that off-roaders are painted as causing so much damage, yet the percentage of land damaged by the bad ones is miniscule compared the damage from forestry activities.

Nice post R.
I think it all comes down to the south of Johnson's head issue doesn't it? It will be interesting to see what happens over the next year or so won't it?

Pity the media aren't interested in the moderate voices.

No, it is not just about the access south of Johnson's Head. A much broader canvas has been painted by Parks over the years. There have been many, many closures by Park towards 4WDers that have not resulted in any replacement tracks. Despite numerous proposals the outcome has been nil. On the premise that there is enough space out there to accommodate a variety of user groups this is unacceptable. Don't get high and mighty about damage caused by 4WDers. Hows about Mt Anne with a turd under every rock on the plateau??!! Don't see 4WDers polluting the environment to that extent, eh? I reiterate that Parks are extremely poor land managers in Tasmania. If you doubt this go to the Northern Territory, Queensland , Western Australia and see what they provide there for the dollar. It puts us to shame. It's all the worse given the extraordinary landscape they are charged with caring for. Other land managers overseas can actively get a variety of usergroups to cooperatively recreate on State lands, but Parks here have buried their collective head deep up their fundament in order not to see the problem. Far too many shinyarses and not enough doers!

[Strider]

Judging by the tire treads they were hot rodded 4WDs.

What a strange assumption.

[stepbystep]

Hows about Mt Anne with a turd under every rock on the plateau??!!

Fair play!

Don't see 4WDers polluting the environment to that extent, eh?

Bollocks!

I'll butt out now I was hoping for some positive suggestions in the debate

[north-north-west]

My point is, we all have an appropriate space for our recreational activities. If one particular form of recreation is damaging the amenity of an area, we need to have an informed, logical discussion about restricting access, whether that be vehicles, horses or walkers.

*Loud applause*