Alex Tucker Confederation's officer, announces that he will be holding meetings to discuss tracks and access matters at least three times a year. These will be at about 6 p.m at the Ashfield RSL Club on the nights of the quarterly general meetings. November 26, February 2nd and March 27. Come and join us in the Bistro for a working meal.
Where necessary, additional meetings will be held, before the monthly Committee meetings on the third Tuesdays . In between meetings. write to me C/o of Confederation or by phone or fax ,(same number (02) 9451 4028 ) about any tracks or access problems.
Access denied.
The article in the last issue of the Bushwalker inspired four responses from Internet users but not one by snail mail. Is there a message in that? One reaction was surprise that other walkers had similar experiences. So please don't assume that yours is an isolated example of Access Denied. I will try to follow up all reported cases and hopefully get them resolved.
This is no new disease. In my youth the flooding of Lake Burrogorang and the locked gate on the Bindook property made vehicle access to within walking distance of Colong Caves much more difficult and time consuming. Later the Newcastle Expressway cut off traditional access to Govetts Ridge and Gunyah
Beach. It might have been possible to have had a pedestrian overbridge constructed at about half the cost of that useless "Fire Tanker" access bridge which now is described as the Jerusalem Bay Trail.
One Internet user recalled the days when the Rules Point road gave Canberra walker direct access to the Blue Waterholes until a landholder locked a gate on a side road through his property. There was a perception that the NPWS may have accepted this closure as a help in the control of visitor numbers.
Most recently, access from Canberra/Goulburn to parts of Morton
and Budawang National Parks is denied by a locked gate on the Endrick River road near Nerriga. It seems that the road diverges from its declared road reserve on to private property to avoid a swampy area. We will be trying to resolve this matter.
Closure of track to Portuguese Beach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Here the track is being closed by the NPWS following complaints that it is in a dangerous condition. It seem that this spur of the Bairne fire trail was never an official track and therefore has had no maintenance. Whether the closure is permanent or temporary depends on the costs of rectification and an estimation of the number of walkers that use this track. It is part of one of the few circular walks in KRGCNP. If you feel strongly for or against this closure let me know.
Some walker may think that the complainants were misguided and that the track is no worse than most. Even if this were so, a failure by NPWS to maintain a track may well lead to legal action for negligence. I, for one, do not want the NPWS to incur the costs of such actions to the detriment of other activities, So lets have your complaints about any track that has gone beyond the typical "rough old track" and your support in pressing the NPWS and the Government to provide adequate funding for walking track maintenance.
Coolah Tops National Park.
This was one of the recent crop of new parks promised by the Carr Government and the most controversial, since it involved revocation of a State Forest and the closure of a sawmill which was the major employer in the district. It we are fair dinkum about seeking more National Parks we have a responsibility to help to promote"ecotourism". Bushwalkers can contribute by planning walks and camping trips in the new park. I hope that there will be room in this issue for some details of the potential walks. If not you can contact Ranger Michael Sharpe
on ( 063) 77 1678.
Blue Mountains crossing walk
Further to article in the May issue of the Bushwalker,Tony Miller of the Scripture Union Bushwalkers and other walkers has had an interesting meeting with the Hon Bob Debus M P the member for Blue Mountains and also the Minister for Emergency Services. An NPWS representative was present and confirmed that the Service was continuing its assessment of the detailed proposals. Mr Debus gave his support to the project and asked to be kept advised of the progress of the NPWS review. Meanwhile Confederation will be seeking the support of the local councils and tourism authorities.
Great north walk link track - manly wharf to berowra.
A Feasibility study for this link track was on public display during June- July. A large number of favourable responses were received, mainly from the ratepayers of the local government areas affected. The proposed link uses mainly existing tracks
some of which will require upgrading or relocation. The Steering Committee will be meeting soon to assess the results of the responses. I have made contact with the executive officer of DLaWC and responses from bushwalkers will still be considered. Please contact me if you are a potential user of the link or can comment on the proposal in the following areas;
Alternatives to the "Engravings Track" parallel to Wakehurst Parkway
| Proposed new track avoiding the flood zone above Bungaroo |
| Best route from Middle Harbour Creek to St Ives Showground |
| Best route from Wildflower Garden to Warrimoo Track |
| Best Route from Bobbin Head to Appletree Bay |
Great North Walk Benowie Track and alternative
The Department of Land and Water Conservation (DWaLC) has exhibited a map of the Benowie Track and an alternative route some two kilometres longer which extends from just north of the Rosemead Rd Trackhead and bypasses the Hornsby Rifle Range to rejoin the main track at the Bailey Bridge. Please contact me for a copy of the map if you can make any detailed comments on the alternative route and the condition of the main track.
National park watch
In the past few months detailed reports from bushwalkkers have led to the charging of a number of people using National Parks for illegal horse riding and horse camping. Our Code of Ethics requires us to observe the Plans of Management of the NPWS and other Land Managers. We should also extend this to the reporting of apparent infringements, such as when vehicles are noted on Management only trails. A record of registration numbers will assist in the manager's investigations. If you are really keen, you can offer to testify in court. Confederation attempts to comment on every draft Plan of Management which is publicly exhibited. Your local knowledge will always be welcome to our Conservation Officer John Macris.
A Confederation construction corps ??
An 11 metre long bridge is located on the Great North Walk between Fulller's Bridge and the Epping Road bridge.It was planned and built at week ends by men and women volunteers of the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers (ATCV) Should Confederation be involved in such construction and upgrading work? More importantly would you and your club be prepared to join in ?