The recent debate about the closing of the New Haven Gap road. should now be put in perspective. This event together with the Grose Wilderness Nomination proposed by The Confederation in February 1996 could mean that we bushwalkers may have to walk further to our favourite places (and it looks like the ‘service’ is starting with this road) I'm sure we can expect to hear about more road closures in the future.

I have been reading a few of the old issues of "The Bushwalker", and it's quite enlightening to see how the old time bushwalkers took it in their stride (no pun intended) to walk from Katoomba station along Narrow Neck. Or from Blackheath station to perry’s lookdown to start a walk that we now do in a couple of hours, I’m sure they had a great feeling of satisfaction arriving by steam train Friday night , walking down perry’s in the dark to spend a few hours in the magnificent Blue Gum they had so recently saved from the axe. Whereas we complain about walking a few extra Klms to our favourite spots. In the years to come I’m sure we will come to accept these changes and realise the extra effort is worth it.

I think it is worthwhile reprinting part of the article written by Andy Macqueen in the February 1996 issue of "The Bushwalker".

"One night in 1941 Jack Watson, a member of the Rover Ramblers Club, spent a contemplative time in Blue Gum Forest sitting by the camp-fire: he was thinking of the walking mates who had accompanied him to the spot on past visits, who were now scattered around the battlefields of the world, fighting the Germans or the Japanese. In the pre-war days which he looked back to, Blue Gum Forest was out of reach of most day-walkers: Time marches on . Since then a plethora of firetrails have been built along ridge-tops in the Blue Mountains. On each occasion, we bushwalkers have expressed our horror and indignation, but a few years later, after we have become accustomed to the closer vehicle access so-afforded, we have grown to accept the trails."

It’s time not only to stop the rot, but to reverse it. Confederation has submitted a proposal to NPWS for the creation of a Grose Wilderness Area. In our proposal, we have put the view that the firetrails should be closed and revegetated.

This means that I for one would have to walk further to get to some of my favourite spots. But to see that as an inconvenience is self-centred and short sighted, compared with the attraction of gaining a large, intact wilderness. If our recommendations are accepted, I am sure future generations of walkers will thank us for it.

If any reader would like copies of the Grose Wilderness Nomination write to The Editor Bushwalkers NSW PO Box 2090 Sydney 1043, and enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope.