Latest excuse for hook point closure (Migratory Birds)

[Shane Boese]

Inroads controversy

Melissa Maugeri
March 23, 2007 11:00pm
Article from:

FRASER Island was once a battle ground for anti-sandmining and anti-logging protesters.
Then plans to cull dingo populations garnered controversy.
But now it's the tourism operators and police who are angry at plans to change car access to the World-Heritage-listed island.
The plan, announced by Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr last month, would see the closure of 18km of beach road north from Hook Point and instead families would be encouraged to camp in the area.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the closure would also make it safer for migratory birds and baby chicks from nearby rookeries to wander the shore line.
However, the impending closure has drawn a chorus of complaints from people and businesses who make their living bringing tourists to the world's largest sand island.
They say the proposed alternate route is dangerous, despite reassurances from Queensland Parks and Wildlife that it would regularly grade the track. Tourism operators are also worried tourists will not be as keen to ride down the bumpy bush track as they would be for a journey along the beachfront.
A Queensland Police Union spokesman said officers were opposed to the beach road closure, because the alternate route was unsafe.
"The police service has made representation to the environment department about their safety concerns," he said.
"It sounds like there is consideration for the welfare of birds and not humans."
Figures provided by Ms Nelson-Carr's office show out of 107 accidents on the island between 2003 and 2007, four had been on the inland road.
But the beach road closure could see more than 30,000 vehicles a year using the track.
Ms Nelson-Carr said she would reserve her decision on the closure until she visited the site before Easter.
"My view is that there is still 130km left for four-wheel-drive vehicles so why not use that 18km stretch as a place for families to go who don't want to do the four-wheel-drive thing," Ms Nelson-Carr said.
She also said despite the rookeries being positioned away from the beach track, wildlife officers were worried about bird chicks dying.
"Drivers are hitting little chicks because they can't see them," she said.
"We haven't made a decision yet. We might make the whole beach a 20km zone."
Tour operator Wade Batty, whose
Suncoast Safaris ferries tourists from Noosa across to the island on four-wheel-drive trips, says the plan threatens his business and the safety of his customers.
His staff have already attended one accident from a roll-over.
"If they go ahead with the proposed closure of the beach they will have blood on their hands when the next incident involves a fatality," Mr Batty said.
Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism general manager Damien Massingham said the current option was best because it spread the traffic.

[seatime]

Great, 20km/h the whole beach, you'll need 2 tide changes to get to Waddy. It'll cause more damage to dunes as vehicles will need to exit the beach more often to avoid the incoming tide. 20km/h will mean more vehicles on the beach for longer periods, there will be lines of traffic on the beach putting baby chicks at further risk. There will be more night driving to take advantage of the tides, more baby chicks at risk.
Where will it end, baby chicks.

[no_more_gym2004]

I'm Sorry but this is the biggest load of SHIT!!! They intent on the closure for sea birds and to let families enjoy the 18km stretch of beach without the traffic...wait a minute....without the traffic...so they are supposed to walk kilometres just to get there! Not the smartest thing the Environmental Minister has come up with. About the sea birds most sea birds do not nest in the middle of the beach! they're either right at the waters edge or in the dunes. If people use the beach correctly and don't drive etremely close to the water the birds will not be at any risk.

[Tangles]

my 2 cents, reading between the lines they probably know families wont really flock there due to access issues anyway, so kill 2 birds with one stone, offer a politically acceptable reason to the public as to the reasons for the closure, and still keep it open for family use ( promoting a family friendly government face) knowing that hardly anyone will use it as they cant get there, thereby appeasing the Greens..
just a thought
Mike