Any more word on the closure of Hook Point?

[revs57]

With the Fraser Expo just around the corner, I was wondering if anyone had any more info on the proposed closure of Hook Point to through traffic forcing us to use the goat track and potentially destroy our vehicles and trailers?

Any updates would be welcomed

Cheers

Rhys

[Any_Weather]

Rhys, have been wondering the same but as I have asked soo many times already I didn't like to nag on the issue. Lets hope common sense prevails and this falls through. Mate only 6 weeks and 2 days now, will be here before we know it.

Lee

[Shane Boese]

Hi Guys
Below is the latest press release

Regards Shane

Inroads controversy

Melissa Maugeri
March 23, 2007 11:00pm
Article from: http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif</IMG> (http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/?from=ni_story)

FRASER Island was once a battle ground for anti-sandmining and anti-logging protesters.
Then plans to cull dingo populations garnered controversy.
But now it's the tourism operators and police who are angry at plans to change car access to the World-Heritage-listed island.
The plan, announced by Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr last month, would see the closure of 18km of beach road north from Hook Point and instead families would be encouraged to camp in the area.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the closure would also make it safer for migratory birds and baby chicks from nearby rookeries to wander the shore line.
However, the impending closure has drawn a chorus of complaints from people and businesses who make their living bringing tourists to the world's largest sand island.
They say the proposed alternate route is dangerous, despite reassurances from Queensland Parks and Wildlife that it would regularly grade the track. Tourism operators are also worried tourists will not be as keen to ride down the bumpy bush track as they would be for a journey along the beachfront.
A Queensland Police Union spokesman said officers were opposed to the beach road closure, because the alternate route was unsafe.
"The police service has made representation to the environment department about their safety concerns," he said.
"It sounds like there is consideration for the welfare of birds and not humans."
Figures provided by Ms Nelson-Carr's office show out of 107 accidents on the island between 2003 and 2007, four had been on the inland road.
But the beach road closure could see more than 30,000 vehicles a year using the track.
Ms Nelson-Carr said she would reserve her decision on the closure until she visited the site before Easter.
"My view is that there is still 130km left for four-wheel-drive vehicles so why not use that 18km stretch as a place for families to go who don't want to do the four-wheel-drive thing," Ms Nelson-Carr said.
She also said despite the rookeries being positioned away from the beach track, wildlife officers were worried about bird chicks dying.
"Drivers are hitting little chicks because they can't see them," she said.
"We haven't made a decision yet. We might make the whole beach a 20km zone."
Tour operator Wade Batty, whose
Suncoast Safaris ferries tourists from Noosa across to the island on four-wheel-drive trips, says the plan threatens his business and the safety of his customers.
His staff have already attended one accident from a roll-over.
"If they go ahead with the proposed closure of the beach they will have blood on their hands when the next incident involves a fatality," Mr Batty said.
Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism general manager Damien Massingham said the current option was best because it spread the traffic.

[whynott]

I sent an email to Premier Pete and the Minister.
It has taken 3 weeks to get any sort of reply and the email was sent 3 times
Here is the reply that I received from the minister ( who has lost total contol of reality).
She got one of her office people to reply.
Graham.



Thank you for your e-mail of 11 March 2007 concerning the proposed beach
closure to vehicles from Hook Point barge landing to 18kms north on
Fraser Island. The Minister has asked me to reply on her behalf.

The closure to vehicles of a section of the southern beach on Fraser
Island is a key desired outcome of the Great Sandy Region Management
Plan 1994-2010. This is a Cabinet-approved Management Plan that is the
product of extensive community consultation.

Under the Management Plan, removal of traffic from this 18km section of
beach will provide significant social, recreation and conservation
outcomes. Visitors, especially families, will be able to enjoy a section
of Fraser Island's eastern beach free from the worry or intrusion of
motor vehicles. This section of beach is also a recognised roosting site
for migratory wader birds, and their survival will be significantly
enhanced by the cessation of vehicle use. Moreover, it will provide the
only opportunity for low key, off-beach camping adjacent to a
traffic-free beach on the east coast of Fraser Island, as recommended in
the Fraser Island Camping Management Plan.

Given the size of Fraser Island and the significant area of other
beaches available for vehicle use, the closure of this small section of
beach is considered reasonable to cater for the full spectrum of Fraser
Island users.

In order to meet the Management Plan objective of closing the beach
18kms northwards from Hook Point, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife
Service (QPWS) has upgraded the old mining road, which runs parallel to
the beach, to a standard allowing safe travel for the forecasted volume
of traffic.

An independent and expert road safety review of the upgraded Hook Point
Road has been conducted and has confirmed that required standards have
been met. New directional and safety signage has been installed and the
speed limit along the road is a maximum of 50kph, although drivers
should adjust their speed according to prevailing conditions. By
comparison, the recommended speed limit on the remaining network of over
700kms of Fraser Island inland roads is 35kph. The Police have agreed to
conduct speed checks to monitor and improve compliance.

The majority of serious vehicle accidents on Fraser Island occur on the
eastern beach due to higher speeds, an unstable and dynamic surface and
driver inexperience of beach driving conditions. The QPWS will continue
to permit emergency services personnel, vehicles and aircraft to access
the most suitable safe sites in close proximity to any emergency
incident.

The Minister thanks you for bringing this matter to her attention. If
any further information is required, please contact Greg Walker of the
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on telephone 4121 1990.

Yours sincerely





Ross MacLeod
Senior Policy Advisor

Office of the Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr MP
Minister for Environmental and Multiculturalism
PO Box 15155
CITY EAST QLD 4002
Tel: (07) 3224 7468
Fax: (07) 3227 6309
E-mail: EandM@ministerial.qld.gov.au (EandM@ministerial.qld.gov.au)
<mailto:EandM@ministerial.qld.gov.au (EandM@ministerial.qld.gov.au)>

[Shane Boese]

Hi Graham

What a crock of S**T

"This is a Cabinet-approved Management Plan that is the product of extensive community consultation".

Where and when was That?.

"In order to meet the Management Plan objective of closing the beach 18kms orthwards from Hook Point, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has upgraded the old mining road, which runs parallel to the beach, to a standard allowing safe travel for the forecasted volume of traffic.".

As of last saturday the road still had not be upgraded. It was the same as it aways has been.

Once again the Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr is pandering to the Green Movement

Regards Shane

[revs57]

Thanks for the replies fellas...still nothing definite then, but looks like it will eventually happen as a faite accompe. Typical pollies, deals done behind closed doors with a semblance of transparency through supposed "extensive community consultation" but they have already made up their minds.

I guess we'll deal with it when we get there

Cheers

Rhys

[Sea-Dog]

How are the families supposed to get to the 18Km of beach to camp on - Walk? :-/