4WDs damage Little Murray Creek in Barrington Tops National Park

Media release: 22 October 2014

Authorities are shocked by the behaviour of 4WD ‘hoons’ who have deliberately gone out of their way to damage a watercourse in Barrington Tops National Park over last weekend.

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Lower North Coast Region Manager Robert Quirk said someone has chosen to repeatedly drive through the stream at Little Murray on both sides of a perfectly good road.

“Roads are provided for visitor’s safety and to protect the environment from this sort of damage”, he said.

“Disturbingly, the area ripped up was part of a Montane (Sub-Alpine) Peatland and Swamp, which is recognised as an endangered ecological community.

“These swamps are very fragile, and this area will take years to recover.

“There is just no need for anyone to have gone off-road.

“This unnecessary damage means the tax payer is left with the cost of repairs, which are expensive and time consuming, and could easily be avoided if people simply acted responsibly.

“The recent snow fall meant some roads were closed as a precaution against them being damaged by irresponsible drivers”, he said.

“We chose however to leave this road open and it is very disappointing to see what has occurred.

“This is why access to fragile areas has to be managed.

“People should only drive on public roads and all vehicles must be registered and the drivers and riders licenced.

“NPWS rangers undertake regular patrols and people caught in unauthorised areas face a $300 on-the-spot penalty.

People can report illegal activity to Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000) or their local NPWS office.

 

Images of damage here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/48646673@N07/sets/72157648847260246/

Contact: Lawrence Orel