Imminent Closure of Hook Point

[tin can man]

Well fellow Fisho"s, I received information yesterday, the closure of HOOK POINT is happening after the Fishing Comp. Been informed by my Spies, there are already signs in certain places with the words (NO ENTRY) ready to be erected. This will certaintly be a sad day for all the Fisho's and Tourists who venture to this beautiful part of the world. You have to wonder what the Governments agenda really is. Obviously common sense will not prevail.

[darylive]

It never ceases to amaze me the stupid bloody decisions made by idiots who are supposed to be representing the people who elected them. Surely there are not enough bongheads voting to warrant such blatant disregard for the people who go to this place, their safety never mind the convenience. Even the local Coppers are dirty about this irresponsible stupidity. who is going to enforce this? What possible reason can there be for closing the beach and sending a tirade of traffic into the bloody wilderness. The wheel tracks on the beach wash away with every tide and they want us to travel through the bloody bush? What happened to stay of the dunes? save the beach?

[ziggy.]

The beach is the only self maintaining road that I know of, it just makes no sense and it is going to be plain dangerous for people. They say that it will create a safe enviroment for campers and kids on the beach forgetting that the same people have to brave this crazy bloody road to access the rest of the island.

I signed the petition against the closure and as usual it did no good, makes me wonder what becomes of petitions after they are handed over. The big question is will this be the end of it ? Give them an inch and they will take a mile !!

[pontiph02]

This sounds really great to me.

I don't have a car, so it means I'll have the opportunity to catch a bus up to Fraser and camp on the beach without having to put up with the endless streams of four-wheel drives taking advantage of the "self-maintaining road".

I'm surprised that people are so outraged at losing a relatively small portion of beach access.

I guess the real point is that not everyone owns a four wheel drive, and there's no doubt the beach is more pleasant without the cars.

Rob

[peterbo3]

Rob,
That is a bit of a bogus argument. Without 4WDs nobody would be going to Fraser. How far are you planning to lug your camping gear up the beach? The area behind the dunes up from Hook point is mostly reclaimed sand mining lease & the vegetation is none too flash. In fact, few people seem to camp there as the tides often cover the beach entirely.
The "small portion" of beach access is not so small. It is a safe way of avoiding a road that was constructed by the sand mining operators in the 1960s to move mineral sand down to the wharf at Hook Point. The inland road requires a huge amount of work to just make it halfway usable. Plus it is a top fishing spot which does not lend itself to access by foot.

[revs57]

Not only so, if I've gotta tow my rig to Waddy via the inland road, I'm prepared to tackle Indian, but to throw the inland road on the trip its gonna turn it into an all day affair and at least two tides, thats given the gear survives that treacherous stretch of goat track called the inland track...it just aint gonna happen.

Not happy Jan!!!

Cheers

Rhys

[flick]

Rob there are thousands of beaches around the country that you can catch a bus to that you can camp at. None of them need a ferry either.

Hook point is possibly one of the most windswept, featureless, asthetically poor shark infested beaches on the eastern seaboard. Give me a couple of valid reasons why you would want to camp there and how the majority of the population benifits from such a poorly evaluated ruling. Greenies, rangers, police, locals, and yes, us hillbilly redneck 4x4 fisho's all agree that to close this area is not only dangerous but actually more enviromentally damaging.

Jim

[pontiph02]

Hi all,

Interesting to read your arguments. I have not been to Fraser in many years, so I'm not too well informed about its geography. If it really is such a poor quality beach, then I agree that there is little benefit in roping it off from cars.

Peterbo3, I travel pretty light, so I can comfortably cover 10km in a day, or 15km at a stretch.

As an aside, I am amused by your combined description of Hook Point as windswept, featureless, asthetically poor, shark infested AND a top fishing spot. Casting slab baits into a 25knot southeasterly for beach whalers is not my idea of a top fishing spot, but each to their own!

Rob

[darylive]

Rob,
If you don't have a car it doesn't concern you, you idiot. Fact is no one camps at hook point anyway. It is a matter of safety. Nobody cares if you get hurt but the real people who actually do go there are concerned about the environment and the safety of responsible people; It is irresponsible and stupid to close the beach.

[Greg P]

Be nice camping down there when the weed is thick

[elprez]

I lived on fraser a couple of years back and had no trouble using the inland road as it was so cant see any trouble with a bit of work on it. How many of you have used it, I've heard a lot of people talk about it that have never actually used it, or if so why, theres previously no reason why you had to use it if you know the island and conditions.

[darylive]

Rob I tried to respond to your PM

[darylive]

pontiph02 ;

Rob, I did try to respond to your PM but I am not sure it worked and perhaps it is more appropriate I apologise in the public forum as it was here I offended you.

Sorry mate you are right I was wrong to call you an idiot. I just had a head of steam up about the beach being closed. To put so many vehicles on an inland track is crazy and dangerous, besides the environmental concerns.

I acknowledge your comment re safety, I have taken children up there and realise there are fools driving on the beach too. My concern is when someone is hurt there needs to be a better option to get them home than the goat track. Having said that under such circumstances one would use the beach anyway.

Again you are right I was wrong to call you idiot, I understand your concern for being referred to as an "idiot" and why you might "get sick of reading the same thing over and over again." (quote Rob)

[Chaz]

I apologise

Well done that man!!!! Fighting amongst ourselves does not seem to acheive much.

I often do not post an opinion here because too many cannot articulate a logical response and resort to name-calling. I do have something to contribute and am also willing to change my attitude in the face of valid information.

I don't have an issue with the beach closure IF the alternative is drivable, maintained, and gets me where I want to go. I would like to know more about the issue but don't want to have to wade through the nonsense that is sometimes posted here.

Brenden

[billfisher]

So the reef shark populations on the GBR aren't collapsing then Chaz?