Petition to conduct a parliamentary enquiry into recreational use of National Park use

[wazatherfisherman]

The current petition before the NSW Government has been declined. For those who didn't know- it was a petition to conduct an enquiry in relation to recreational use of National Parks within NSW, particularly the reduction of allowed activities. It was simply a petition desgned to discuss the viability of currently prohibited activities within some parks.

Signed off on by Penny Sharpe MLC, the enquiry was not supported. 

Just for everyone's information

[Steve0]

Not enough signatures = not enough election voting pressure to force politicians to bother. 

 

[big Neil]

I guess that we have only ourselves to blame for not getting behind it.

It's a sad state of affairs when NPWS are the latest Gov Dept to take over the control of recreational access to the Murrumbidgee River access. I will explain...

The river is like our Bondi Beach, a place where families and friends could go to share time, and have fun, in the Summer. One would (logically?) imagine that NPWS taking over would be great for the people of the Riverina. After all, aren't they the Gov't body that looks after the reserves, etc so that the public can enjoy these facilities? They promptly put signs up along the highways to direct people?? to these supposed reserves. Alas, not the case. They locked the gate access to the main area (Middle Beach) for months, banned agistment of cattle and the collection of firewood. We now have to travel 60kms to collect our trailer full of firewood, after getting a permit to do so. Then they opened the access to the reserves so that people could use them. However, this is conditional. You have to book, pay a fee, and have limited time allotted. Lighting of fires is banned. The dirt roads used to access the recreational areas are not being maintained any longer. Shame because they are the fire trails that the RFS would use to deal with fire outbreak along the river.

Certainly, when Forestry were in control of these reserves, the roads were maintained and the clearing of scrub timber was encouraged to minimize the potential risk of fire.

SUCKS!

bn

[Steve0]

42 minutes ago, big Neil said:

 One would (logically?) imagine that NPWS taking over would be great for the people of the Riverina.

My imagination and logic work a little differently to some. I'm always suspicious when government changes controls to a different department. I imagine NPWS would say the changes are about balance between the needs of wildlife and people.  Unfortunately, Australia is becoming far more crowded than when we were kids. My wife says that's our fault for having three kids Resources being locked up is a problem destined to get worse.

These days, going near the Murray makes me sad for the things we lost since the 50s. I don't know how the 'bidgee is, but the Murray is more like a playground for Melbournians than locals. That's a mixed blessing for locals. Quiet space on the water is harder to find, but town economies need tourism. That circles back to your point about access. Perhaps it is an issue that might get changes if pushed by business interests? 

 

[PaddyT]

Unfortunate-but not un expected. However , if you look at how the duck hunting situation played out in Victoria there is some hope;

1. Parliamentary Enquiry stacked with Anti Outdoor rec types(Animal Justice, Greens etc) voted to end duck hunting despite well presented evidence that it was sustainable and that animal welfare issues were in fact minor.

2. Field and Game went to the Victorian unions and pointed out to them that the green types wont stop with ducks. Once they had that banned then they would move onto other hunting, then fishing, then 4wds, then jetskis, then meat eating, then any other form of joy. The Unions , in particular the ETU saw this for what it is and threatened all sorts of strike action. Result is that the ban on duck hunting has been pushed back at least 10 years in Vic. 

Given that there are only 25000 registered duck hunters in Vic this was an excellent result and Field and Game need a lot of kudos and support, cause it pushes back everything that the green fringe want to achieve. However THEY WONT GIVE UP-ever

There are plenty in the NPWS bureaucracy that want to simply lock everything up-think about how you vote etc. I have become a one issue voter these days-i put the party that will support my recreation first, and the party that will damage it last. This is also due to my total cynicism with the majors that they are really tweedledum and tweddledee and that neither will solve the real problems that Australia faces and i might as well enjoy myself while it all goes pear shaped.

[big Neil]

Hey PaddyT and SteveO. Many thanks for your oblique input into the topic as it affects my community. You both have different viewpoints but we are all on the same page when it comes to NPWS. Fishing season opens in a week for me so I shall hold my derogatory remarks till how access is impacted, if indeed it is. It really sucks that country folk are often disadvantaged by decisions made by State Gov bodies.

Society, in general is tending to favour minority groups more and more these days. Gives me the Sjlhits.

bn

[PaddyT]

Neil, i hope it goes well for you, ive got no issue with minority groups but i do have issues with people foisting their views onto me and my world. I kill things -i get that some people find that distasteful, but i take responsibility for part of my own meat supply and the majority of my fish supply. I also have more respect for vegans than for folk who buy meat from a supermarket and then try to tell me hunting /fishing etc is bad/cruel/whatever. The days of live and let live have been replaced with an age of stony faced judgment !!

I would also argue that fishos,hunters , outdoor folk have more genuine connection with the wild and wildlife than any Balmain dwelling greenie. NPWS take their marching orders from Balmain. Just dont give up!!!