Still closed.. Wild dogs & Kanangra

[wildwanderer]

I'm puzzled why all of the southern Blue mountains NP and Kanangra-Boyd is still closed.

Granted there is damage to campgrounds and some access roads. However most experienced walkers don't need campgrounds to enjoy a safe bushwalk. There are other ways in and out that don't rely on these damaged roads.

Yes there are trees down and branches threatening to fall. However eucalyptus branches are constantly falling and it's a risk that has been present and managed by bushwalkers since the dawn of time.

Damage to tracks? I don't recall a foot bridge over a ravine or any piece of critical infrastructure that would prevent walkers from once again walking the routes in these parks.

COVID.. the main tourist tracks with far more foot traffic are open.

[ribuck]

COVID.. the main tourist tracks with far more foot traffic are open.

...and opening the more remote areas will help ease the pressure on the main tracks. I know plenty of bushwalkers who are walking the main tracks on the urban fringe, because they're not able to walk further away.

[rcaffin]

I'm puzzled why all of the southern Blue mountains NP and Kanangra-Boyd is still closed.
At least in part, legal liability.
I am sympathetic over this: how else do they protect themselves from the total idiots?

Cheers
Roger

[wildwanderer]

At least in part, legal liability.
I am sympathetic over this: how else do they protect themselves from the total idiots?

Cheers
Roger

Well there is already a substantial 'idiot' fence in place as the road to Dunphy's is closed. Also kanangra walls road. The bridges on both roads are out.

I suspect people who would walk in via other routes won't be 'stevo with his esky full of beer'

In other news

National Parks/Crown lands are now requiring walkers to register their details and route plans with them (for certain multiday walks listed on the linked page). I'm fine with that as long as it doesn't lead to booking systems,quotas and fees.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/acba2 ... 8e8e45c150

[FatCanyoner]

I've seen these sentiments shared a lot recently, especially on social media, with some people openly saying they will ignore closures and go where they please. I find it really frustrating. I can't speak for National Parks, but I will make a few personal points.

Firstly, recently burnt areas are sensitive. They are much more prone to erosion. There are lots of young plants that can easily be trampled. Already stressed plants are more susceptible to pathogens. And weed species can be much more easily introduced given there is so much more bare earth / less competition from established plants. As people who love nature, we should want give it a fighting chance to recover, particularly from the incredibly intense fires we saw this summer. Some of the areas that burnt in the southern Blue Mountains are ecological communities that don't handle fire well, especially the higher altitude areas. They will take much longer to recover and there are grave fears for a number of endangered species.

Secondly, much of this area is declared wilderness. The primary aim when managing it is to protect these last remnants of wild places with limited impacts from modern human development. They are not parks, playgrounds, or recreational areas. Minimal impact bushwalking is generally compatible with their protection, but when there is a conflict between caring for these areas and human recreation, it is the second that should be put on hold. Humans have already caused irreparable damage to the vast majority of the planet. As people who love nature, we should support efforts to protect those small patches of intact wilderness that remain.

So while it is frustrating when individual desires can't be fulfilled (I've got lots of trip ideas on hold because they are in burnt areas) it seems incredibly selfish when people get so fired up and angry about having to put aside their short-term enjoyment so that natural areas can be protected for future generations. No one is saying you can't walk and National Parks have opened lots of areas to bushwalkers (in some cases, probably more than they should, but they are under pressure from people who want to return). I'd encourage people to think about their motivations, especially if they are putting their short-term pleasure ahead of a sustainable future for our natural areas.

[wildwanderer]

I haven’t seen anyone on the forums getting upset or angry they cant walk in closed areas or saying they will ignore closures so it seems somewhat of a strawman approach to reference that here.

I am puzzled why the wild dogs and kanangra are closed considering that other areas that were burnt in December/January like Kosciuszko, Barrington, Wollemi etc are open.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Firstly, recently burnt areas are sensitive. They are much more prone to erosion. There are lots of young plants that can easily be trampled. Already stressed plants are more susceptible to pathogens. And weed species can be much more easily introduced given there is so much more bare earth / less competition from established plants. As people who love nature, we should want give it a fighting chance to recover, particularly from the incredibly intense fires we saw this summer. Some of the areas that burnt in the southern Blue Mountains are ecological communities that don't handle fire well, especially the higher altitude areas. They will take much longer to recover and there are grave fears for a number of endangered species.

^^This

Kosciuszko, Barrington, Wollemi etc are open.

Wollemi is open? All of it?

[FatCanyoner]

I haven’t seen anyone on the forums getting upset or angry they cant walk in closed areas or saying they will ignore closures so it seems somewhat of a strawman approach to reference that here.

I said: "I've seen these sentiments shared a lot recently, especially on social media". I never said they were on this forum, and I don't appreciate you attempting to put words in my mouth. Do you want me to share screen grabs? Remarkable as it may seem, it is possible for people to have experiences beyond this one website, and to reference them in discussions.

I am puzzled why the wild dogs and kanangra are closed considering that other areas that were burnt in December/January like Kosciuszko, Barrington, Wollemi etc are open.

Really? Have you read the National Parks alerts for these parks? Burnt areas of Kosci remain closed. Much of Wollemi is closed. All of Gardens of Stone is shut. Much of Morton NP is shut. In fact, most wilderness areas burnt during summer appear to have at least partial closures still in place. Barrington wasn't burnt -- there were a couple very small fires -- hence no closures.

[wildwanderer]

Ive got no desire to have a debate with someone who wants to continually engage in strawman tactics to make their point of view.

Adios..

[DaveNoble]

Much of Wollemi is closed.

According to the NPWS alerts page for Wollemi NP, most of the park is open. The closed areas include "Deep Pass and canyons" (does this mean just the canyons near Deep Pass that are in the park?), Coorongooba Campground and some canyons near there, The Pipeline Track, and two small areas near Dunns Swamp.

Dave

[FatCanyoner]

The full line of the alerts page is "Deep Pass campground and canyons in Wollemi National Park". I think it's reasonably clear it's more than just the little canyons near the campground. (Well, as clear as the notoriously vague and incomplete alerts on the NPWS website ever get...)