State of National Parks.

[Pteropus]

I never said it would be easy Pteropus, I said it would be an engineering achievement.

Just because we can, doesn’t necessarily mean we should.

So far, the promise of 'eco-tourism' has failed to deliver benefits to the many victims of rapidly expanding National Parks. If you don't understand the impact this has had, go and have a look at the towns of Woodenbong, Urbenville, Grevillia, Green Pidgeon, and Cougal as just a few examples.

Perhaps all the trail bikers that descend on the Woodenbong/Urbenville area every weekend is keeping eco-tourists at bay...

...you must have been talking to some very lazy rangers. The ones I know tend to be preoccupied with activities other than cleaning toilets, such as fire planning, road maintenance, the conservation of threatened species, weed control strategies, etc. Again with much of the ground work to be done by labourers as appropriate.

Their comments are more a reflection on the visitors to their parks, rather than their work ethic. Bins are not always provided simply because people are expected to take their rubbish out with them. But not everyone gives a toss. The rangers work hard, but resources are limited and they are time poor and stretched. People get out of that game simply because they are not spending time on conservation, which is why most got into the job in the first place, and are spending too much time chasing trail bikers, repairing damaged picnic areas or just caught up in general bureaucracy.

[maddog]

Just because we can, doesn’t necessarily mean we should.

No, but why should we not? What would be the objection?

Perhaps all the trail bikers that descend on the Woodenbong/Urbenville area every weekend is keeping eco-tourists at bay...

Lack of access to the parks, a lack of tracks, and a lack of information more likely.

The rangers...and are spending too much time chasing trail bikers

Agreed. They will never catch them.