Emails of protest to minister regarding Tassie track closures

[Aquaman]

Hi all
I recently got an email from 4WD Action about the closure of tracks in Tassie and clicked on the link to send an email of protest to the minister. Then i started to read it.

Rather than send what was already written i decided to send my own words to the minister.

Barking at these people is going to help no one least of all us.

Here is what i wrote

Dear Minister,

I am writing to you not only to register my objection to the closing of 4WD tracks in the Arthur Pieman area on the Tasmanian West Coast but in all areas.

I do understand the need to protect them but as many conservationists would agree, the best way to do that is through education. Access into these area so that people can see for themselves the beauty that is contained within them and why we need to continue to protect them is the best way to deliver that education.

As a youngster i was fortunate to be a member of the Cubs, Scouts and Venturers. This access to areas seldom seen by the vast majority instilled in me a great love and respect for the Australian bush, a love and respect that continues to this day.

4WDing can be and is to many a very family orientated activity. Fathers and mothers take their children and Granparents their grandchildren into these areas and while enjoying them are at the same time educating them about the bush and that while it is an area to be enjoyed that it also must be respected and cared for.

As i am sure that you are aware many local businesses in these areas will have and would in the future benefit from the visitors that come to these area if they were to remain open. Closing or restricting access will affect these people as well.

I do understand the desire and the need to protect these areas and shut out the trouble makers but in doing so there is likely to be a far greater impact on the genuine 4wding community as well as local businesses and future generations. As responsible 4WDers we are not bashing our way through the bush making tracks, we are using the ones that are already there with as little impact as possible.

Unfortunately there are members of any society or group that seem to enjoy destruction and have no respect but this is no reason to punish the greater number that are very responsible. The types of people that leave their rubbish and destroy areas are not representative of the 4WDing community.

4WDers are not hoons bent on destruction. Most of us are very responsible and care very deeply about the land and protecting it. We have this passion in some part because we access these areas and know first hand the beauty that is contained within.

I ask you most respectfully to consider the genuine responsible 4WDers, the businesses and the future generations that will benefit from these areas being and remaining open. I would also respectfully ask that you focus your efforts on detering and punishing those that do not respect the bush and the access that we have and the responsibility that that entails rather than on those of us that do.

Sincerely
Ty Clarke

Not to put too fine a point on it they want an excuse to ignore us. Do not give them one.

Please be respectful and remember that what you write is going to reflect on all of us.

I hope i am not breaking any of the rules of the forum but for those who would also like to send an email here is the link

http://www.4wdaction.com.au/articles/2012/save-4wding-tasmania

[Clunk]

Great words of wisdom Ty, I hope they don't fall on deaf ears, which unfortunately seems to be the case in most instances.

[taslucas]

Hi mate,
Nice letter and well spoken but I'd advise you to have a look at what has actually been changed on west coast of tas.

The general feeling of the park rangers.and locals is that they act

Tap, crackle, pop

[Aquaman]

As with most parks the reasons for closures is not as simple as the authorities just wanted to stop access. There are always reasons.

My understanding is that in this and many other cases the primary reason is that the authorities do not have the ability to manage these areas. When they say manage what they really mean is that they do not have the money to keep them open.

The state and federal governments are not going to provide money for the management of these areas if no one is using them. When there are no means in place to definatively know how many people are using the area how can they know how much money to put in. If it can be shown that people are using them and want to continue to use them then the government can get an idea of what kind of numbers are involved. If we sit and do nothing then they will never know. That is the point of why they call for submissions and public consultation. Say and do nothing and there is no reason as the government sees it for spending the money to keep the areas open and certainly no reason to put any additional money in. That money is used to pay rangers, maintain the areas, put up signs etc. and while some of us might not see this work being done they are there doing it.

Understand the processes involved and you will understand that what they are calling for here by asking for submissions and consultation is for people to stand up and be counted. Then they can get an idea about numbers and the amount of money to put in. It might not make any difference but it is not going to hurt and it takes hardly any time to send an email.