Saturday, Nov 17, 2018 at 12:14
Some of the most scenic drives are on some of W.A.'s lesser-used country gravel roads - particularly at the right time of year.
I drove from Balkuling to Avon Industrial Estate, East of
Grass Valley, in early October, taking back road shortcuts through Mt Hardey, Malebelling and Quellington, to
Grass Valley South Rd, and then Leeming Rd to the AIE.
It was a really scenic drive at that time of year, with everything green and lush, rolling hills, and a great view of Mt Bakewell from Marwick Rd. No 4WD is needed, you can do it in the family Camry.
I notice that concerns are now being raised as regards Dieback control on this new 4WD route from
Perth to
Albany.
If some 4WD'ers decide to take detours into forest areas looking for mudholes to ensure they get the true 4WD experience, I can see where the Dieback problem could raise its head.
Working in the Southern W.A. forests as a contractor with machinery today, involves some pretty intensive quarantine checks, and major levels of cleaning between machinery movements.
The same criteria is also becoming applied more and more to farms, as farms become more and more alert to quarantine issues with unwanted weeds being carried by vehicles.
Even in the 1960's, in the SE wheatbelt, it was standard practice on numerous farms, as a earthmoving contractor - where noxious weeds such as doublegee (emex australis) were a problem - that all vehicles entering paddocks had to stop at the paddock exit
gate, and one had to
check every single tyre thoroughly for doublegees, remove them from the tyres, and place them in a container located on the gatepost.
This was a major effort, particularly with multi-wheeled trucks, but it was the only way to prevent serious spread of the doublegee curse.
W.A.'s new Southern 4WD track poses Dieback spread threat
Cheers, Ron.
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