A popular camping area in a New South Wales national park has been forced to close after 4WDs illegally entered and damaged the site.
The camping area in Morton National Park, 170 kilometres southwest of Sydney, had only just re-opened after suffering damage during the 2019 bushfires.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Area Manager Graham Bush said NPWS will be pursuing legal action against the group for unauthorised access and damage to a wilderness area.
“The group illegally entered the Morton National Park through locked gates and drove to the Griffins Farm walk-in camping area,” said Mr Bush. “The group then proceeded to do ‘circle work’ which basically destroyed vegetation that had only just recovered from the bushfires.”
The camping area had only re-opened in December after taking time to recover from the Currowan bushfire.
“Two years on we are now pretty much back to square one as the irresponsible actions of these people have completely destroyed the emerging vegetation, disturbed the ground cover and soil, and left the site unusable,” said Mr Bush. “This group has not only damaged a fragile environment, they have also stopped other people from being able to use and enjoy a popular area.”
National Parks and Wildlife Service says the area will have to be closed to campers for the foreseeable future.
“A contractor working in the park advised NPWS of the group of five 4WDrivers so we have been able to identify those responsible and have commenced an investigation into their actions,” said Mr Bush.
NPWS will now look to charge the group with various offences under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
How dare they selfish and irresponsible. Charge them and make them pay.
Hope they the NPWS get serious & make an example out of them now they know who they are. Is it like other recreational laws where the Vehicle can be confisticated ??
It’s called hooning so they should take their vehicles, and sell them to recover damages, plus a large fine, but I doubt that will happen. They wont even be banned from Nat. Parks. They will get a $600 dollar fine and a stern talking to from the judge.