4WDs under attack on Fraser Is

[Bomber]

Fraser Island limits 4WDs



February 20, 2007 04:24pm (Herald Sun)


A STRETCH of Queensland's World Heritage listed Fraser Island will be closed to vehicles so families can escape "four-wheel drive madness".
Queensland Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr today confirmed 18km of Hook Point beach, at the southern tip of the island, would be closed to traffic, with the amount of area closed expected to be extended to 25km.

But vehicles will be able to use an alternative route.

Fraser Island, off Queensland's south-east coast, is the largest sand island in the world and is known as one of Australia's foremost four-wheel drive destinations.

In 2005, it was named one of the world's sexiest islands by the prestigious US business publication, Forbes magazine.

"We are doing this to make that section of beach available to families, so that they can appreciate that absolutely pristine part of the world without four-wheel drives racing down the beaches, which puts people with small children in a very unsafe position," Ms Nelson-Carr told State Parliament.

"We will close this section of the beach, knowing that there is another access route that will be upgraded regularly by QPWS (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) rangers and that this part of the world will be available to those who want to escape four-wheel drive madness."

Was there at Christmas, the "bypass road" is horrendously corrugated, they'll need to put a lot of effort into keeping it usable (or is this a ploy by the resort owners to force you off the local ferry and make you use theirs from Hervey Bay??)

[Steve F]

So dumb considering you cant travel to the island without a 4WD and you aren't going to go by foot to hook point. I wouldn't imagine they get many people going over to the island without a vehicle... or do they?

Cheers
Steve

[Jeeptheone]

I bet they wont affect the tour operators with the 4x4's and busses. The Hire 4x4's with inexperienced drivers seem to tear up the place and those busses.

We just want to go and experience the island as a familiy and just happen to have a 4x4, does that make me an environmental nazi?

Just my 2c.

JTO

[cherokee]

Originally Posted by Steve F

I wouldn't imagine they get many people going over to the island without a vehicle... or do they?

Only those on tour buses, and the tour buses don't go anywhere near hook point! I know this because my first experience on Fraser was on a tour bus.

[cherokee]

Originally Posted by Bomber

[b][b][color=blue]"We will close this section of the beach, knowing that there is another access route that will be upgraded regularly by QPWS (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) rangers

Will be upgraded? Really?

Bomber, I was there in August, and the corrugations were terrible then, so I'd say there's some work to do!

[XJ 98]

Thats cool, Hook point is normally where the weed is in the water !!! gets very stinky at low tide. Pristine

[kalani]

was there yesterday, the inland road was to corrugated, but hook point was pretty soft 1.5hrs before low...

i guess if they fix the inland rd - it might be ok, but it will still ad 25-30min of travel time!!!!