While there are many beaches around Australia where it is perfectly legal to drive a 4WD along the beach, that’s certainly not the case at the saltpans in Queensland’s Bowling Green Bay National Park … and for many good reasons.
But, of course, that doesn’t stop people.
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) reports that two more drivers have caused extensive environmental damage after becoming bogged on the expansive saltpans.
And, like many before them, they were forced to abandon their vehicles.
DETSI Senior Conservation Officer, Craig Dunk, said four-wheel-drive enthusiasts in the Townsville region were advised to find other, legal locations for these activities.
Two vehicles became bogged, with one of them being an attempted rescue vehicle. PIC: DETSI
“Due to environmental conditions, vehicles that are bogged on the saltpans can remain stuck for weeks before an authorised towing company can begin the extraction process,” he said. “Vehicles that get bogged on the saltpans can be written off by the tides and it can cost thousands to have them retrieved.”
Mr Dunk said the towing company reported the incident to the department last month and one of the vehicles has been extracted, but the other is still stuck on the saltpan.
“We want people to save our saltpans and their vehicles by taking their four-wheel-drives to locations where they can legally drive them,” he said. “The maximum penalty for unauthorised use of a vehicle in a protected area is $3,226, and people who get stuck on saltpans risk their vehicle being written off and a hefty fine.”
Under the Nature Conservation Regulation, it is an offence to drive or ride a vehicle into restricted sections of a protected area. The saltpans in the Bowling Green Bay National Park are not an approved or authorised road or track.
The saltpans in the Bowling Green Bay National Park are listed under the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance.
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Pretty damned stupid for all the obvious reasons plus a couple of hidden ones. Starting with some fairly serious corrosion problems not too far down the track. Apart from that, their Insurance Company might also come back with a firm ‘nyet’ because they were driving in a prohibited area. So not only no insurance but also a hefty fine AND a big bill for the wreck being recovered.
Stupid is as Stupid does!
great reply,where were their brains?
Dickheads
spot on with that.
Give them the bill to cover both the cost of removing the vehicle and the cost to repair the damage to the salt pan
Stupid Is As Stupid Does
Why would you ? Be buggered if I wanted my vehicle covered in salty mud.
But it looks so good on instagram!
Or when you eventually get Your Jindalee tractor home!
they might blame climate change?
“Folks are dumb where i come from”
Yep, they have spent $60-70 or more on their 4×4 plus $thousands of more to make them invincible and then they are are proven wrong by ignorance.
Would have benn good if the article explained any validated environmental reasons not to drive on the salt pans. Not merely the financial reasons. There must be some evidence base gor them to be listed inder conservation. Perhaps those facts would hep deter people.
I did wonder myself…Are they protected because they are trying to get some type of plant to grow ?..
What was going on in their heads you ask? Tweet tweet.