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All National Parks tracks and trails will be closed over the weekend
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
This may also apply for Forests and other public lands.
"ALL TRACKS AND TRAILS CLOSED FOR WALKING, HORSE-RIDING AND CYCLING FROM FRIDAY, 11 JANUARY TO MONDAY 14 JANUARY
All walking tracks in NSW National Parks will be closed until at least Monday due to severe weather expected over the next few days.
Picnic areas and camping areas in the east of the state remain open. Due to severe weather forecast National Parks is putting safety first and will close parks where there is any question of safety."
Details & Updates See Link:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/...
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People do stupid things. Just because a sign is up plainly stating a potential threat or danger doesn't mean people pay attention.
http://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/122...
Several years ago when the Blue Gum Forest at Blackheath was turned black and crispy, we (as in FRNSW) were patrolling a street that had a good view of the fire front about 10-15 km's away. The next thing 2 mtbers come out of a trail head and look surprised to see a bunch of fire trucks. "The fire is nowhere near here" was their response when we asked why the hell they went out in the bush. 10 minutes later the wind changed and spotted directly into where the 2 guys came out. It took days to put the bastard out. these things can and do happen. As much as I'd like to say people are responsible, they aren't.
Double post. What a noob.
If there was a bushfire in Glenrock(or any Nat. Park) & someone was injured or killed as this person did not see or hear any media updates(some of these young people today do not read papers/watch the news!)would it be their fault or the Land Manager?-without any signs they leave themselves open to any legal ramifications.
... but you would have to prove that on the balance of probability whether a reasonable person would not have heard the warnings.
Otherwise, damages would be appropriately discounted for contributory negligence. Doubt the plaintiff would even recover legal fees.
I take your point, but the courts these days are reasonably good at making nuanced decisions.
Does anyone know if Ourimbah is open as I don't see it meeting the closed area criteria?
http://www.forests.nsw.gov.au/media/releases/for...
with these blanket closures(which I fully understand considering the 2 stinky hot days we had)if the emergency services need zero visitation to these area's(rural & remote area's would be o.k)which surround or are part of large cities need signs & lots of them!
"fires dont erupt into 1km 60kmh fronts in minutes - they start from hours if not days old fires."
Never seen a fire take off in dry scrub have you?
The 2004 fire on Hassans Walls went from someone dumping their hot lawn clippings over the back fence to the whole reserve being on fire within about 30min. I remember watching it tear up the mountain and jump between ridges and thinking "Shit I'm glad I didn't go for a ride today"
Brian, I called NSW State Forests yesterday and they told me all State Forests would be closed until Mon, however, maybe now that's it cooled down it will be opened.
I just took this from the SF web site, so does this include Ourimbah:
Update: 11 January, 2013
Many state forests are closed due to severe fire weather. Local management teams will determine whether forests need to be closed to ensure public safety from the threat of fire.
The following forests are closed and expected to remain so until Monday 14 January. All forests in the central west of NSW including the popular recreation area Macquarie Woods midway between Bathurst and Orange.
Native forests north of Ulladulla to Sydney
Tallaganda State forest in the south
Native forests in the hunter and mid-north coast to South West Rocks
Native forests on the north coast will be open on Friday but closed over the weekend.
Additional forest closures may be added to this list during the day.
I read it as it doesn't because Ourimbah is above Sydney and below the Hunter.
I agree, but I was told it's closed, did anyone ride Ourimbah today?
One weekend Our beloved dirt is out of bounds and people are up in arms?!
I don't understand what the fuss is about? Yeah, I'm a bit put out too that I can't ride off road too, but really, anyone who has been around these parts long enough will know that we live in a bush fire prone area. If I'm told that I can't ride because of fire risk them I'm going to listen. Anyone remember 1994? Or even 1979? It has been a long time since a big fire round here... We are due.
Besides, think of it as sport. There's nothing quite like passing a bunch of roadies heading down into Akuna without pedaling. Or going around them heading back up the hill.
Lets go hunting!
I think people are more worried about a trend than just one weekend. And I can understand someone being annoyed when a weekend is the only time they have the opportunity to go for a ride.
I dont know about everyone else, but when it is hot I ride at sun up for an hour or two before it gets too hot then go home. This is the time of day when it is cool, normally very little breeze and least at risk of fires. I dont reckon there would be a huge group of people lining up to ride at midday when it is hottest, windiest and most at risk of fire. I strongly disagree with blanket bans telling me what I can and cant do. I know exactly what risks I face and am prepared to deal with the consequences........after all that is what day to day life is......balancing risk and consequence. A possible solution that may satisfy the indoor law makers and outdoor active types could be to restrict access on days where LOCAL CONDITIONS ARE DEEMED CATASTROPHIC between the hours of most risk eg. 10am to 6pm.
The other thing melonhead, is who is going to see the bloody idiot arsonists anyway? A few years ago, I spotted 4 fires all lit a few hundred metres apart and on the low side of hills - pretty much designed to burn a whole hillside at glenrock. I called the fireies and gave them exact locations of all spot fires so they could get them out without pissing about looking for them - even discussed with the operator the easiest access points.
no sign of the arsonists by this point, but the public are a resource as well for reporting fires, and making arsonists nervous.
BTW Burt, you missed the word "if" - it makes a vast difference-
You are clearly deluded.
Based on your theory the fires would automatically go out at night and re-start after 9 am.
As for risk, astonishingly it's not all about you but potentially about the brave souls who would have to rescue you.
Again. Three days of a blanket ban due to extreme conditions in over four years is hardly a pattern.
And you wonder why the public perception of mtb riders is so low?
Firstly Burt calm down. We are all reasonable people with different points of view. Just because someone does not agree with you does not mean they are wrong.
Secondly : If a fire was burning when I got to the trailhead I would see smoke and choose not to ride that day.
Thirdly : If I entered the bush then I have accepted the risk and dont expect someone to risk their life for me. I am a bush bloke and am clever enough to know when I am at risk and when I am not.
Fourthly : I agree that three days in over four years is not a pattern. My assertion is that this will set a precedent and WILL BECOME A PATTERN.
I also agree with pharmaboy that more eyes in the bush can be a blessing rather than a curse.
Looks like the Sydney parks were reopened last night. See the following link and scroll down:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/...
When I looked at the above link a few hours ago, Berowra Valley, Garrigal, Ku ring gai and Lane Cove were listed as open. Now they've dropped off the list.
... at the end of Bradfield Rd and off Ryde Rd this morning.
I was looking at that list in deciding whether to change the status of Glenrock. The problem is, the text at the top of the page saying everything is closed contradicts the list.
The text does say that Picnic areas and Camping areas in the east are open though, the specific Glenrock section talks about there just being a Total Fire Ban. Id be taking that to mean that you can't have a fire in a picnic area and that all walking/cycling/management trails are closed.
Sort of makes sense, its easier to evacuate people from a defined picnic/camping area than it is to locate people on a trail network if there was an emergency.
Perhaps it was wishful thinking on my part...
so if that link jp posted above is a list of parks closed and it was updated today then, ignoring the sensationalist headline from yesterday, if Ku-ring-gai is not on that list then would a reasonable person be expected to think? It is open today would be my answer.
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/parks/fireclos...