Shane Boese
21-02-2007, 10:15 PM
Courier mail Today
February 20, 2007 04:24pm
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."
February 20, 2007 04:24pm
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."