Shame, Shame, Shame.

These misguided individuals were turned around and sent on their way. Unfortunately with temporary closures Parks Rangers are limited in what they can do.
Cheers Craig........

Thanks for the reply Craig. I guess that's about all that could be done in the situation.

*Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) no Parks Vic rangers discovered the vehicles on the closed tracks and they all lived to tell the story*

Hi True Blue

So what CAN happen if your caught doing this and if so is it enforced by PARCS on a regular basis

Cheers

Hello warfer69. Not too sure if we may have escaped with a warning or whether they would have immediately slapped us with a fine. Someone mentioned $500 per vehicle, and there were 13 vehicles in all. Other than that I'm not sure. But it was by accident.He didn't deliberately go down a closed road. He hadn't checked before the trip and the track wasn't marked in any way as being seasonally closed.

Still it would have been very embarassing if they had been sprung.

Cheers for now, True Blue.

The Parks officer said that temp closures are difficult to enforce & take to court but with the seasonal & permanent closures (MVO's) they will prosecute particually if damage to a track or camp site can be proven. Prosecutions have been rare from what I have heard as Parks don't want to unnecesarily tie up Rangers in court, but what has happened on several occations is that some seasonaly open tracks were closed permenantly after damage was found, a decision that is often difficult to reverse. I think TB is right with the $500, the fine is actually printed on the closure signs from memory.
Cheers Craig............

For the groups that came up to the Bluff from 8 mile there was no doubt they had come through the closure as the Ranger asked them where they had come from. We had only an hour before put the signs & baracade back up after it was torn down by deer hunters the night before. After a little grilling a couple of them even admitted it. The 2 that came through from the Howitt Plains may not have passed any signs (we never went that far) but were BSing so much it was obvious they knew the area was closed.
As for presuming innocence I don't think they take ignorance as an excuse in a court. It's the drivers resposability to make every effort to ensure the tracks they drive on aren't permanently or seasonally closed, hence my link to the Parks site to help people avoid an uncomfortable confrontation with a Ranger.
Have been caught on the wrong side of a track closure myself that was sign posted open November at one end & open in December on the other. (The track crossed over between 2 Park districts :-)
Cheers Craig...............

Hi Craig

Saying now, that they admitted moving signs changes whole scene and makes them eligable for some reprimand, and makes it hard to get fair comment from people reading.

I note that you comment on seasonal/Permanent track closure but its worth to note that its the responsibily authorities duty to ensure that signs are maintained for temporay/ abnormal closures , in fact if they don't they can be held liable if an unsafe situation emerges.

Robin Miller

Mike the tracks closed in the High country following the fires may be closed due to trees blocking the roads, dangerous trees overhanging the tracks that may fall at any time, widow makers hung up in trees, landslides, rock falls, unstable ground, exposed mine shafts or heavy machinery working in the area etc.
The Bluff track we were on was cleared of most of the dangerous trees last weekend & should be open in a couple of weeks.
Although some of the High Country tracks may appear trafficable, many are still unsafe & Parks certainly don't wont to be felling trees or be working their dozers & excavators trying to dodge the public.
Having seen the work done on one just weekend it's a massive repair task & everyone will just need to show a little restraint before getting back to our favorite tracks.
Cheers Craig.................