The old Wanganui Walking Track was closed in 2008 by Byron Shire Council order due to public neglect and safety/maintenance/public liability/vandalism/privacy issues.
Contrary to rumour sparked by the recent local Landcare newsletter headlines (with curiously deficient article), ‘Public access to gorge via Huonbrook end remains closed’, the past access remains in the private possession of the family who have owned and cared for this land for over a century (and shall remain closed to the public for the aforementioned reasons).
A reminder that trespass is a serious offence for the foremost reason that no-one likes strangers in their personal space, let alone constantly so.
Empathise and act with integrity, the world would be a better place and perhaps I could enjoy where I live after six years of continual public abuse of my home. It seems an unsavoury truth that past generosities usually pave the way for future abuse.
Tresspasser take note: mugshots taken, vehicle registration recorded, and fines applied along with righteous abuse. My tolerance, patience, and civility are at an end.
Please don’t abuse the basic private right to privacy and instead use your public right to ask NPWS for a safe and legal public access to the national park adjacent to this private land (other side of creek).
This would: render negligible two costly and flood-prone bridges across Coopers Creek (one presently non-existent because of past floods); enable linkage with the access from Repentance Creek end which would (for the first time) allow access through the whole gorge in spectacular times of flood without the serious dangers of past access; and delete the issue of strangers in my backyard and allow myself and family to experience some peace and privacy without nervous stress and legal nightmare.
Feel free to share salient points of my proposal in your request to NPWS. Perhaps W.C.H.Land Care could lead a petition to NPWS and rally local support for a project in which everyone benefits?
Peter Domaile, Huonbrook
Good luck with that Peter.
Dear Peter,
Sincere apologies if something in our newsletter has caused a problem for you. Our imminent edition includes an article about the recent Wanganui field day. If you would like to check its wording, please be in touch (ASAP).
Unfortunately, Peter, the issue you have is part and parcel when you own land, or reside by a natural feature, owned by everyone – especially, outside of cities. I acknowledge, there are a lot of mongrels out there, who don’t know how to respect the land, or other issues surrounding.
But, I will make an assumption, that this issue existed BEFORE you moved to this property – that, you either accepted the ‘trade off’ at the time, or, you weren’t diligent in your research. And, therefore, you would be the problem, not that which existed prior to your arrival.
Easy fix…just realise you are not in Kansas, Toto…
When in Rome, my boy…
Reading it letter, I’ve come to an understanding that nature is not owned by one person, everyone should have access to nature, also isn’t it council land (public land) 2 metres from the rivers or creek edge?
Creating a path and allowing visitors to avoid your property would be ideal.
After all, the best way to put out a fire isn’t to pour fuel on it…
So, comply with the visitors to comply with you.
Also most visitors would have been going there since a young age, so the fact you taking away their right to visit a natural feature when they’ve been going there their whole life seem pretty arrogant.
So why fight?
Comply to be respected.
I for one have been visiting the walking track since my father showed me at the age of 7. And I’ve done bush re-gen on the other side of the river.
I have residential friends that fish in that creek too. It’s a community out there, so comply with the community!