Penalty for walking closed area

[bmak]

In areas that allow off track walking but some walking tracks are closed due to flood damage would there be a penalty for being caught in there?

I've been doing a fair bit of walking in the grampians and Mt Cole lately and often come across track closed signs on the tracks I've been walking on but when I've entered there was no such sign

[taswegian]

I would expect (trust) it's no different to any situation where signs are erected for whatever purpose whilst the person is within the 'designated' area.
Road signs in construction/ maintenance areas are typical example where they are erected after you pass into that area.

If you are not wilfully setting out to flout the warnings then that should be sufficient 'excuse'.
Doesn't exclude an over zealous autocrat though from flexing their authority.

[bmak]

Are the walking tracks just closed for liability purposes?
Obviously a bit of track erosion or a missing bridge isn't going to bother someone who prefers off track walking anyway

[Liamy77]

Perhaps... but consider trying not to add to the track erosion eh?!

[Azza]

I think many tracks in Tasmania are closed due to erosion and environmental damage.
From a cynical point of view I think many tracks are closed to let them get overgrown and return to the wild, removing any expectation of parks maintaining them. Whether its a matter of putting up a closed sign or obscuring the start of the track.

Especially considering I don't think there is any money left in Tassie to do any track work except for frenchies, the overland, and that potential white elephant 3 capes thing.

[MJD]

Cynical indeed, but certainly seems to have an element of truth in it.

[Liamy77]

Yeah i had the same thought but wasn't gunna say so.... oops!

[tasadam]

I know of one track in a very popular walking area that was closed because too many people (tourists) were getting lost up there... Not saying where it is, but that's what the Parks staff told us when we asked why that track was closed. I agree that so long as you can walk lightly and it doesn't appear that it is closed for personal safety reasons, then it's discretionary. Problem is, my definition of walking lightly and others not so experienced at choosing a route over rocks etc instead of up a rehabilitating path, could be a bit different.