VIC TRACK CLOSURES

[bogged]

Unless you guys can work-out deals like we have to do up here (NSW). The clubs do some work for parks and wildlife in return for "SOME" access.

we already do that....

any more news on the meeting?

[80diesel4play]

Quick straight to the point deal;

The Gvmnt - wants to make the CFM responsible for the tracks/area with watered down National Parks principals, Numbers biased voting at Assemblys and poor governance again....

Next crucial assemble - Daylesford Secondary College - 1st May - that when they decide on how to run the whole shebang.....

Ideally - we need numbers to turn up as its a very politacally charged uissue that is also beiung implemented in Bendigo, Portland etc,......

C'mon - show up!!!

[marin]

it was pointed out to me during the break halfway through the meeting that chris (i think his name was) had said in his presentation that things like firefighting, ROADS AND ACCESS would be the sort of things that WE WOULDN'T have anything to do with as part of a CFM, and that the DSE would probably continue to manage these sorts of things. The whole sport/recreation of four wheel driving is based around roads and their management, whether they are open or closed, maintained or not etc etc. Anybody else pick up this?

[greg]

i went and had no idea what the hell was goin on. who was that big guy up the back in the suit?

He's the current president of the VAFWDC. (assuming you mean the fellow writing on the white board).

and it was only about wombat, not places like dissa or toolangi.

The meeting was always only about Wombat - but the fear is that what ever happens there will be repeated at every state park in Victoria / Australia. This is why the VAFWDC is trying to get involved now so that they can do their best to influence the outcome.

Hope that helps to clarify a bit.

[grimbo]

if i knew what the hell was goin on... id tell you first.

i think things are gonna get worse tho. we wont win. so from now on in your day packs bring bolt cutters.

MaccA

This is the atttitude that gets these places shut. Do not ever take bolt cutters with you to cut open locked gates. Do not ever mess up the occasional tree like your other post. These sort of statements on public forums do the recreational 4wheeler no favours. You don't think that people trying to oppose our sport don't know of these forums and check them out.

We can win if our association can help organise a protest of size and merit that is protesting with all the relevant info available. To do this people need to be in affiliated clubs etc.

The meetings prior relating to this subject of the Wombat forest have been organised in a manner that has made it almost impossible for rec 4wheelers to know about them. now that we do we as a group have to make a concentrated effort to turn up to the next one. Vehicles will need to be in rwc apperance, clean, displaying club stickers. People need to be vocal but not abusive or out of control. Everyone needs to be on their best behaviour, no alcohol etc. As many family groups, kids etc need to be there.We cannot increase the bad profile many of these opposers seem to have of us.

If they are trying to keep these areas safe for everyone then we need to show that as part of everyone we want these areas kept open for us to use

[greg]

I'd tried to start a new thread to discuss the outcome of the meeting. Find this here:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=15861

[V8Patrol]

Next crucial assemble - Daylesford Secondary College - 1st May - that when they decide on how to run the whole shebang.....C'mon - show up!!!

I'm in

[ORSM45]

if i knew what the hell was goin on... id tell you first.

i think things are gonna get worse tho. we wont win. so from now on in your day packs bring bolt cutters.

MaccA

This is the atttitude that gets these places shut. Do not ever take bolt cutters with you to cut open locked gates. Do not ever mess up the occasional tree like your other post. These sort of statements on public forums do the recreational 4wheeler no favours. You don't think that people trying to oppose our sport don't know of these forums and check them out.

We can win if our association can help organise a protest of size and merit that is protesting with all the relevant info available. To do this people need to be in affiliated clubs etc.

The meetings prior relating to this subject of the Wombat forest have been organised in a manner that has made it almost impossible for rec 4wheelers to know about them. now that we do we as a group have to make a concentrated effort to turn up to the next one. Vehicles will need to be in rwc apperance, clean, displaying club stickers. People need to be vocal but not abusive or out of control. Everyone needs to be on their best behaviour, no alcohol etc. As many family groups, kids etc need to be there.We cannot increase the bad profile many of these opposers seem to have of us.

If they are trying to keep these areas safe for everyone then we need to show that as part of everyone we want these areas kept open for us to use

sorry if ya took it the wrong way mate, was just being stoopid, i dont even own any bolt cutters, and if you did read my post it said 'i have no idea!' and i always try to keep minimal impact = maximum return. i learnt that in outdoor education honestly.

MaccA

[Red Rover]

yeah good luck with it. It is an uphill battle against polies that favour which way the wind blows and that what is trendy. Been there done that with recreation groups in QLD for the past 10 years. Complaceny is the biggest issue. I remember that we had a huge turn out up here in qld and the minister Ron Welford couldn't even give us honest answers. They still went ahead and did what they wanted to, but at least we put up a fight. Even today local polies are trying to close track etc. It is a fight that will NEVER go away so deal with it, get organised and be heard. Always make sure you have personal permits before goning into state forests. One good thing in our favour, especially up here in qld is the growing number of 4wds and the more there are the more pressure is on the government to secure access. Shows like Great Outdoors etc help our cause as it encourages more people leave the bituman and drive offroad on formed tracks, not off road bush bashing. I know the Australian 4wd council is improving and will benefit us all. I believe some high profile people are getting on board as well from private industry to help us get heard. Having said that we are slowly getting there. Do not blame the rangers etc as they are only doing their job, blame the politicians and complacent people. Here here to all you guys and best of luck with it.

[bogged]

I believe some high profile people are getting on board as well from private industry to help us get heard

Im suprised some high profile companies arent throwing thousands of $ at this to help! Companies like ARB, TJM etc etc, if everything closes then that fucks their business.

[RANUKI]

let me clear some issues,

For starters yes the meeting is at this point only directed at Wombat, howeverthis is to be the model for all our state forests. Long and short the whole issue stems from the impact of logging however they have the $$$ on their side (even though this isn't about the spindoola, lol).

Companies like those mentioned have the ability to purchase land and build said 4x4 parks if all else fails, more profit for them, but hey that's the idea of buisness isn't it.

I will save the rest for the new thread as this is vital to all victorians even though it is surrounded by buracratic bullshit as always.

Cheers
bEN

P.s Thanks to all those that came to show their suport..

[Red Rover]

I have thought for a long time that the companies you mentioned, along with others should be behind us more actively. However it is my strong belief that their target area is tourers & outback travellers. YOu only have to walk into their shops to see where their focus is. The hardcore arena in not really in their marketing plan. They want to sell heaps off stuff to the novice 4wder that has watched the great outdoors & load them up with accessories to do canarvon george. This is only my view though.

[HSV Rangie]

Is there a meeting on Easter Sunday aswell as May 1.

Regards
Michael.
P/S agree about the major 4x4 accessory suppliers there biggest market is the tourist trade, load em up ship em out.

[Aus4wd]

Is there a meeting on Easter Sunday aswell as May 1.

I don't believe so.

[V8Patrol]

I believe some high profile people are getting on board as well from private industry to help us get heard

Im suprised some high profile companies arent throwing thousands of $ at this to help! Companies like ARB, TJM etc etc, if everything closes then that ***** their business.

Probably more important to the publishers of 4x4 mags to also get off their butts and do something about this ...... after all how many copies are they going to sell if they all end up doing nothing but writeups of the newest release 4x4 from Japan.... if they can find some where to test it that is !!!

Magazines also have advertisers who's business' will also suffer, who'd bother lifting a MAV and fitting the latest rubber as advertised in a mag if there's now-where to "drive it "???

This fight isn't just for the users, its the whole chain that will be effected, from the manafactures, dealers ( new and used alike), suppliers of aftermarket accessories, 4x4 publications, 4x4 clubs and associations, and right down to the individual users such as myself, unfortunately its the bottom of the "food chain" that will feel it first.

[grimbo]

I agree that 4wd businesses and mags should get involved whole heartedly but the major impact will be from having 1000 or whatever 4wds and their families turn up and protest. to have a representative from XYZ Corporation saying we should protect the forests because in the end his business will suffer compared to a family man saying he wants to be able to maintain and use the forests so his kids and their kids can use it. Which one will get more of a positive action. I think we need these companies and the magazines to be in their fighting but maybe not as the spokespeole IMHO