Tarkine

[geoskid]

Happy with that nuts.
Will give you a call tomorrow to arrange detail
Trying to do this on mobile (just logging in, and staying in), is a trial.
Already lost a big Pm
Cheers

[photohiker]

I'm thinking a simple effort, somewhere 2wd access, pleanty of room to spread out & camp (independently/quietly etc..), not any great distance to walk, minimal pressure..

Hmm... Back to my suggestion then?

Easy pickings: Visit the road accessible areas and do day treks from the vehicle with large empty packs

Scared off by losing your 4wd on the beach, taking wifey's shopping trolley?

Go for it.

[Nuts]

I doubt we'd need to travel too far, as you say & depending on numbers, the 4wd clubs might want to do the rest There may be 5/6 so far & that includes yourself!

I seem to recall one of those was a parks vehicle

[stepbystep]

Well once again Easter has passed and disgusting 4WD behaviour was evident from the intimidating driving on the Western Explorer to illegal and disrespectful actions from West Point to Pieman Heads. Witnesses were all over the Tarkine. Conversely my group celebrated the beauty of the place in a soft fashion, in a collaborative and inclusive way, with song and ink and pen and paint. Any argument that the 4WD fraternity make was destroyed very effectively...by themselves.

Here's a little something of mine away from the noise of the coast, the walking potential is extraordinary...

[Taurë-rana]

Just caught up on this discussion, it's certainly generating some high feelings! I'm torn because I have been through the whole area in a 4WD, and love it, and if I was still going regularly would hate to be shut out, although the escalation in bogan behaviour may have driven me away anyway.

I think the problem is that the horse has bolted though. If the area had been managed properly in the first place, if fines were actually applied to people caught doing the wrong thing, and alternative routes put in around middens etc, if there had been more education about the history, if Parks and the government had been more willing to work with the 4WD community to manage it so that there was a culture of working together to look after it and have pride in it we may not have this problem now. People consider it their land and that's why passions run so high. Lots of the more responsible 4 wheel drivers love it for its beauty and wildness as much as we do, but perhaps struggle to recognise the historical and cultural significance. I don't know what the answer is. You can't just lock people out of their home, and for all they abuse it, it is their home. It's no less our country just because we haven't been here 40,000 years, but it can't keep going like it is. Somehow attitudes need to change.

And as for mining and forestry

Try not to lose them in the sea on the way down to Sandy Cape then

Do I detect sarcasm,..the wit of fools.

FF

Plenty of vehicles been washed into the sea down there, and a bulldozer buried on one of the beaches, disappeared into the jelly sand.

[Buddy]

Just caught up on this discussion, it's certainly generating some high feelings! I'm torn because I have been through the whole area in a 4WD, and love it, and if I was still going regularly would hate to be shut out, although the escalation in bogan behaviour may have driven me away anyway.

I think the problem is that the horse has bolted though. If the area had been managed properly in the first place, if fines were actually applied to people caught doing the wrong thing, and alternative routes put in around middens etc, if there had been more education about the history, if Parks and the government had been more willing to work with the 4WD community to manage it so that there was a culture of working together to look after it and have pride in it we may not have this problem now. People consider it their land and that's why passions run so high. Lots of the more responsible 4 wheel drivers love it for its beauty and wildness as much as we do, but perhaps struggle to recognise the historical and cultural significance. I don't know what the answer is. You can't just lock people out of their home, and for all they abuse it, it is their home. It's no less our country just because we haven't been here 40,000 years, but it can't keep going like it is. Somehow attitudes need to change.

And as for mining and forestry

Try not to lose them in the sea on the way down to Sandy Cape then

Do I detect sarcasm,..the wit of fools.

FF

Plenty of vehicles been washed into the sea down there, and a bulldozer buried on one of the beaches, disappeared into the jelly sand.

You are right on the money there. Parks had no presence in the Arthur Pieman area for quite a few years. Couldn't get anyone to work there or some such rubbish. During that period a culture of non-compliance grew and now needs to be effectively quashed. Increased presence and a few savage fines will do it. Quad riders are a major part of the problem, not just 4WDers. People seem to forget the working bees run by joint Parks-4WD clubs in the area. Don't tar everyone with the same brush people ; it show a measure of immaturity not becoming.

[stepbystep]

I don't see any tar being splashed about buddy

What I did see at Easter was an ugly, aggressive, loud user group that intimidated many.

Parks did work very closely with Braddon and Devonport 4WD clubs through the period when some tracks were closed. The change of government has seen less funding and therefore less PWS staff up there and the education program and compliance has suffered. Is that what people voted for? I think not.

4WD-ers have the run of the coast from Strahan to Stanley. It's time the clubs and governing body publicly advocated and supported the track closures from Pieman Heads to Sandy Cape and gave that area up to a softer style of tourism where people were able to enjoy the area without the noise and aggression witnessed at Easter.

A bit on quad bikers last night

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-0 ... on/6378910

[corvus]

Appalled at the attitude of some of the 4WD drivers you encountered ,I was a founding member of the Devonport 4WD Club and co wrote the Constitution,when we did our trips down there we stuck to the tracks and had our fun on a couple of beach creek crossings down to Sandy Cape.
The Quad Bike situation is a worry which I have no answer for nor do I suspect any real policing from Parks owing to lack of resources ,just a pity we are unable to Name and Shame ,did you get Reg Nos from the 'intimidrators" ?

[flyfisher]

Good point Corvus, a few pics and some rego nombers would jerk them into gear.
We do get sick of hearing stories about these morons and their poor behaviour.
Same old story, always a few people seem unable to behave in a decent manner.
It would be great to see a few hefty fines handed out and maybe vehicles impounded etc.

SBS, did any of your people think to take pics of these idiots. Would be good, we all would like to know who, and where from.

FF

[geoskid]

Good point Corvus, a few pics and some rego nombers would jerk them into gear.
We do get sick of hearing stories about these morons and their poor behaviour.
Same old story, always a few people seem unable to behave in a decent manner.
It would be great to see a few hefty fines handed out and maybe vehicles impounded etc.

SBS, did any of your people think to take pics of these idiots. Would ge good, we all would like to know who and where from.

FF

No point asking ff, sbs has swallowed the green pill, (doctrine), and has no problem with ethics if it gets in the way of spinning his lines. It's blatantly obvious and disappointing..

[photohiker]

SBS, did any of your people think to take pics of these idiots. Would ge good, we all would like to know who and where from.

Last time this was on the news, photos showed the 4x4's had duct taped their number plates.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-12/c ... ge/6089036

[stepbystep]

Images have been supplied to the relevant authorities. Investigations are underway.

Sadly it's not a small minority that behave in this way, it's a sadly disproportionate number.

This forum is not the place to 'name and shame' for gratuitous purposes. Despite the ugliness my people created extraordinary beauty, that will last.

For those interested in the true, sustainable future of this region feel welcome to observe the Tarkine in forward motion. Trolls will be booted, this is a place for peaceful, creative, progressive people. The bushwalking potential is extraordinary

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1613061 ... 0/?fref=nf

[north-north-west]

No point asking ff, sbs has swallowed the green pill, (doctrine), and has no problem with ethics if it gets in the way of spinning his lines. It's blatantly obvious and disappointing..

Disappointing. Can we have the discussion without personal attacks, please?
It is possible to be both anti-exploitation and ethical. It is also possible to be both pro-exploitation and ethical although, to be honest, I've seen less evidence of that.

[photohiker]

For those interested in the true, sustainable future of this region feel welcome to observe the Tarkine in forward motion. Trolls will be booted, this is a place for peaceful, creative, progressive people. The bushwalking potential is extraordinary

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1613061 ... 0/?fref=nf

Not visible to non-members...

You must log in to continue.

[stepbystep]

For those interested in the true, sustainable future of this region feel welcome to observe the Tarkine in forward motion. Trolls will be booted, this is a place for peaceful, creative, progressive people. The bushwalking potential is extraordinary

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1613061 ... 0/?fref=nf

Not visible to non-members...

You must log in to continue.

Yep sorry Michael, that's only for people on Facebook. There's a bit of a newsfeed here...

http://www.bobbrown.org.au/tarkine_in_motion_updates

[photohiker]

No worries, I don't agree with locking information up on the internet but I'll cope.

I've had quite a few email updates, so no drama. Look forward to seeing the results.

[stepbystep]

The first results will be displayed in Sydney at the end of April. much more after that!

[icefest]

The first results will be displayed in Sydney at the end of April. much more after that!

I can't wait!

[Buddy]

I don't see any tar being splashed about buddy

What I did see at Easter was an ugly, aggressive, loud user group that intimidated many.

Thanks for that anecdotal evidence.

[Grindelwalddave]

The Tasmanian government is about hand over 61,500 hectares of Tarkine reserves to mining speculators. These areas include sections of the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area, Meredith Ranges Regional Reserve, and Savage River Regional Reserve. Could regular contributors to this site proffer an opinion as to how this could affect bushwalking opportunities in the Tarkine?

[doogs]

The Tasmanian government is about hand over 61,500 hectares of Tarkine reserves to mining speculators. These areas include sections of the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area, Meredith Ranges Regional Reserve, and Savage River Regional Reserve. Could regular contributors to this site proffer an opinion as to how this could affect bushwalking opportunities in the Tarkine?

I recently went for a wander through a little of the Meredith Range, it is quite a stunning little range that noone seems to know much about.

As far as I can figure out the Meredith Range is a granite batholith surrounded by sedimentary rocks, where these two meet there are metal deposits which have formed due to the heat and pressure from the rising molten rock. The mine at Mount Lindsay would be the first of what could be a series of mines around this range, leaving little access to for people wishing to enter this reserve.

I'd encourage anyone to go and have a look, it is mainly off track and true wilderness. I would describe the scenery as similar to Freycinet (but without the water), but much bigger. The ridgeline is scattered with huge boulders and the rock is much more suitable for rock climbing as it isn't as brittle as Freycinet. It does have the potential to be both a bushwalkers and rock climbers paradise, if there was a track into the area I could see it becoming an extremely popular destination.

[north-north-west]

Where was your starting point, doogs? There's not really an obvious easier point of entry that I can see from looking at maps. (Not asking for detail, just a vague idea.)

[doogs]

Where was your starting point, doogs? There's not really an obvious easier point of entry that I can see from looking at maps. (Not asking for detail, just a vague idea.)

I pretty much followed Tastrekkers route, there is plenty of evidence of prospectors using the route to the river and beyond. I've sent you a message and a crappy picture of the route I took!! viewtopic.php?f=42&t=11762&p=155829&hilit=meredith+range#p155829

[north-north-west]

xxxxx

[Nuts]

These people have no issue with those in the local region asking questions on their behalf. 'Your' people..(sbs) otoh, seem to have made a striking, no doubt- 'lasting' impression.

(As you may know- a tourism service business, in 'the tarkine')



Only positive vibes here though eh!
NW, precious, I was reminded- what's happened to Madddog?, maybe being called a 'creep' was enough for him eh.

The Meredith Range reserve access to be denied?

I'd agree, there are no end of nature based tourism opportunities across the area (if that's what we want), they are there now.

[stepbystep]

I took a policy some time ago of not engaging with some of the members on this forum so I won't directly.

The project I am at the heart of is designed to be ongoing over the next 5+ years, it's aims are to engage directly with the people of the Tarkine, all of those willing to talk and to listen. To celebrate the shared love for the landscape and to educate all sides as to the benefits that will flow to the region from a suite of proposed infrastructural initiatives. None of which will be possible from the boom/bust mining/forestry regime. Cutting through the ideological ramblings of Harriss and co is the challenge.

I don't pretend to have all the answers for the region but I'm going to try damn hard to find some, the Tarkine in Motion arts initiative was letting Tasmania know the arts community value this area incredibly highly. On the smell of an oily rag I got 70 artists and 10 volunteers up there with a month's lead in time. I could have taken twice that number. There is much more good stuff to come. It's a shame so much of the bushwalking community(on this forum) are so jaded, and swallow the swill fed to them.

[doogs]

The Meredith Range reserve access to be denied?

Noone said that Nuts. Open cut mines cover a large area. All I suggested was that access to the range is going to be difficult through mining lease areas. The access to Parsons Hood has become a no go zone and there is no mine there yet..
I personally have no problem with mining, although at the moment with the drop in resource prices it is probably not a good investment for the state. In the future perhaps. However I do take umbrage at mining in Reserved lands, why bother setting it aside for protection? Instead of conservation we'll just remove the *&%$#! land, what a fantastic way to protect it!

[north-north-west]

I personally have no problem with mining, although at the moment with the drop in resource prices it is probably not a good investment for the state. In the future perhaps. However I do take umbrage at mining in Reserved lands, why bother setting it aside for protection? Instead of conservation we'll just remove the *&%$#! land, what a fantastic way to protect it!

This is the issue, I think, for most us. Certainly for reasonable people. It's not the mining or forestry per se but where and how it is done. There are places too precious to be destroyed in this way.
Tasmania (unfortunately in some ways) is replete with such places.

[Nuts]

Doogs, I agree, access should be expected to be maintained. I also think it's abhorrent to simply set aside land tenure in such a way.

I took a policy some time ago of not engaging with some of the members on this forum so I won't directly.

I didn't know that, this is the first mention. It's understandable I guess. I would just say who exactly they were (myself) but that's pretty obvious in this case I suppose. For the best maybe, unfortunately what has been building (for me) for many years, on environmental issues generally, can translate to an attack on individuals. I know jack about the sordid complexities of the Tarkine political battle but the attitudes don't seem to change or progress with each new situation or issue.

I'm not sure it's 'jaded'.. nonplussed at the continued 'battle', seemingly ingrained players, sometimes I consider there's some aiming for a thriving 'wilderness defence' industry if nothing else.

Not jaded, pretty positive actually, the coastal reserve is a win of sorts, the greater area will eventually be reserved in some form, it's inevitable.

I'm not pro or anti mining, it appears with any lateral pondering (as an industry on Tassies West Coast) mining makes no long term sense. We all use the products so I think people (or the people of the region) at least deserve a fair go, a 'transition'. They don't appear to have had much transition to a dumped forest industry or now it seems, expected transition from those not happy with mining. I just don't consider that the people living and working in the region should suffer any relative inequitable hardship from driven change. A burden on them may not even be necessary. If existing use is in place, it is worked around, better practices assured. Even the tourist\s aren't 'good enough'.. should be swapped for a 'better class', local opinions don't 'fit'= look elsewhere for support?? -we are so far from 'progress'

(edit: image removed)

[stepbystep]

Yes nuts you, your profane abuse in a private FB message was the last straw. I was hoping when you were banned here that would be the last I'd need to engage with you, but alas you've chosen to engage directly with me once again despite being asked not to by these site admins, coupled with geoskid's personal attack means I'll stay out of this forum for some time again, as I am actually busy 'doing it', goodbye!

Go visit the beautiful, diverse and threatened Tarkine. The bushwalking is extraordinary.