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Four Wheel Drive NSW & ACT, INCABN: 51 879 448 402PO Box 1371, Parramatta, NSW, 2124Phone: 1300 4WD NOWThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fellow members,On behalf of the NSW Regional Councils the following is a snap shot of what the Association and its subcommittees, the regional councils, will be engaging in over 2014/2015.
Firstly you need to understand that times have changed in retrospect to 4wdriving as we know it. With the large increases of 4wd vehicles availability now on the market and the ever increasing reduction of suitable locations for off road activities brought about by business expansion, private property demands and the significant increase of wilderness, the old ways are just not sustainable.
As a large user group we need to reduce our impact on what lands are available and be involved in the sustainability of its future, either by monetary ways or by being involved in the management of these areas.
This statement is hard to accept and will be met with opposition, but it’s a fact; we can either be at the forefront of future management or protest into insignificance. The Sydney region will be working closely with Rangers in the Garden of Stone National Park and surrounding areas. Some of the projects include track repairs, tree planting, track assessments and track classification. They will be involved in the Mount Airlie SCA and put forward workable solutions to help maintain access.The Hunter region will continue being a strong voice on the Stockton Beach access and camping issues facing the area. There is going to be change that will impact on what we do in this area. How much will depend on the submissions from all of us and negotiations by Hunter representatives. Negotiating the reopening of Slippery Rock Road in Watagans NP is ongoing, with the possibility of us doing some volunteer work to fix wet spots. Members should check the NPWS website for roads closed before club trips if it ever rains. We have gained the support of the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) committee for track classification in the Watagans and will be pushing for final acceptance of our initiative both directly and via the RAC committee through 2014. (All regions) Being a member of a national parks regional advisory committee (RAC) provides opportunities to push for access and recreation. Places on these regional advisory committees throughout the state are ministerial appointments, and these will all terminate at the end of 2014. Our regions should start planning to get a club delegate appointed to their regional advisory committee now to push for better access but it will need the strength of our Executive Committee to endorse our nominations.Roads have been closed in some state forests of the Watagan and Buladelah areas. This has been done by felling trees across roads. Site inspections to gather more information are in progress and will be discussed with regional forest managers. Clubs should report any closures they find to their regions. Map references by GPS should be provided to help us represent any club concerns. Hunter region will be launching its own Facebook page to relay immediate information to club members, allow their input of breaking news throughout the region and along the whole of the north coast to all joined members. It will be a closed page to keep out the ratbag element while allowing club members to have their say. Southern region is working with the land managers of Morton National park, tasks include track rehabilitation and gate installation on an access track trashed by 4wds several times, vegetation removal on remote service trails, tree planting and weed extraction within Morton National Park . We are also introducing track classification in to our conversation in a hope to expand in to Morton National Park.Abercrombie National Park. (all regions)Some may not be aware Abercrombie national park has increased its size by the way of land acquisition from the Lands department. The area has been used for farming over several decades but only as a weekend getaway over the last several years. We have the opportunity to help develop the area into a two section camping area; the first section will be open to all camping and the second area only for private groups (clubs).
Some of the work involved will be to remove several small dwellings, old disused machinery and vehicles and repair a woolshed and machinery shed for use by groups and for water catchment purposes. The new area is on the Retreat Creek which has water in it all year but not always flowing depending on rain fall.
Abercrombie National Park will give us an opportunity to show, as an organization, what we are capable of and at the end of the project have an area that clubs can use when required.
There is an onsite meeting being planned for late March so a plan of management can get underway.
More information will be forwarded as it comes to hand as we need all clubs to support and get behind this exciting development.Our regions success can only be achieved by the support of clubs and their members, so I will finish this newsletter with a question that only you can answer.Ten years from now will you be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do?Rob KellyHunter Region Jim SkinnerSydney DistrictLee Dunstan Southern Region
