State of National Parks.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Is it just me or does it seam like the government don't want us to enjoy the parks anymore?

Up here in QLD where I live, bans upon bans are placed like I never seen before, A prime example is Fraser Island, see how far you get if you try to hike the Great Walk. Its been closed for the best part of the last two years, apart from the middle section.
In the past month and a half the complete hiking trail is closed, there excuse fire danger, I have never seen this happen before. In 30 years i have never seen the hiking trails closed at Fraser Island due to the warmer weather. In the past year with the hint of a storm a mass evacuation of the island is ordered by the parks and wildlife service, I think there getting a bit overboard now, what do they teach them at Uni these days?

The island is being mismanaged in the past couple of years.

Are other national parks leading in the same direction?

[Hallu]

In Victoria tracks are mostly fine but they take ages to react and rebuild the ones damaged by floods : Grampians, Wilsons Prom, Brisbane Ranges. But I haven't seen areas closed for no good reason, just the occasional "revegetation area do not enter", that's it. Victoria also has probably the best parks website in Australia, with a free pdf factsheet for each park (even small state parks) with map, walks, etc... even though their maps are far from perfect. Other states, especially Tasmania and NSW could benefit from this example. Every brochure you can find in visitor centres should be available online. So I'd say all is good over here. I've also visited Tasmania twice this year and outback NSW twice too, and I noticed nothing of the sort. Is Cape York Peninsula affected by what you're mentioning too ?

[Rob A]

Good on em. They keeping the 4wd out of the place as well?
What about the businesses that make a dollar runing food drink fridges camp tables and chairs up to the happy campers that forget or dont have room to run them up in their toyotas?
And dont feed the dingos, its natural that they should starve while we fu*# up the place.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Good on em. They keeping the 4wd out of the place as well?
What about the businesses that make a dollar runing food drink fridges camp tables and chairs up to the happy campers that forget or dont have room to run them up in their toyotas?
And dont feed the dingos, its natural that they should starve while we fu*# up the place.

no, not at all, 4wds by the thousands, no restrictions put on 4wd numbers. 4WD tour buses you wouldn't believe, one after another, the damage these tour busses cause is unbelievable. Restrictions are only placed on hikers.

[ULWalkingPhil]

There is a group here that are trying to restrict the 4WD numbers, but the government will not listen to them. Fraser Island is one place I avoid like the plague during peak holiday periods. Its overcrowded and the damage done is very high.

Hikers are treated to more solitude on the island, as most of the 4wd drivers don't like to part from there vehicles to far.

[stepbystep]

Fear of litigation?

[neilmny]

Fear of litigation?

I'm inclined to think that this is a big possibility.
They are closing things to "protect" the walkers. (Furthering the nanny state concept.)
I have friends who have a horse riding business, the public liability insurance level required to enter state forest is
rediculous and the percieved risk is that a branch or tree might fall on someone?????????
How do we get repsonsibility for our own actions back ie. I walk in the bush a tee falls on me.......it's my bad luck
not the responsibility of the Parks people.

[jackhinde]

over the last 20 years a whole host of tracks near me have been closed. some even have silly signs offering $5000 fines if you use them. I ignore them- how often does one see a ranger in the bush after all?
the branch story above is spot on, there are now specific warning signs at the carrington falls carpark warning that trees are known to drop branches, so i am guessing someone tried to sue.

[kbm63]

Walked on Fraser while still Forestry - the tracks were fine as they were being maintained for fire breaks. I think budgets probably has a bit to do with it and a fear of litigation a fair bit more.....

[Pteropus]

I too think it might have something to do with budgets. I doubt it has much to do with litigation though. As you may know, the LNP Government is trying to save money with massive cuts across the public sector, which has been quite controversial, since thousands of people have lost their jobs over the last year. Furthermore, the old Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) that administered National Parks, wildlife and other resource management was cut up and its various roles sent to other or new departments. For example, National Parks are now administered by Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (yes, you read that correctly!) while the section that manages the environment is now in Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Some people think this split was a deliberate attempt to divide and conqueror by the less than environmentally sensitive LNP. On top of splitting DERM up, many jobs were cut, and I have heard stories where one person now has to do the job that was done by four or five people. One would think that perhaps there will be a recruitment drive in the near future to replace these positions and make the departments work, but rumour has it that sections that are struggling because they receive minimal support will just be shut down instead of given a lifeline, even if they fill a vital role. SO, I doubt maintaining walking tracks in National Parks is a priority at the moment, especially when 4wdrivers are a priority since they are likely to be a constant source of revenue.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I too think it might have something to do with budgets. I doubt it has much to do with litigation though. As you may know, the LNP Government is trying to save money with massive cuts across the public sector, which has been quite controversial, since thousands of people have lost their jobs over the last year. Furthermore, the old Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) that administered National Parks, wildlife and other resource management was cut up and its various roles sent to other or new departments. For example, National Parks are now administered by Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (yes, you read that correctly!) while the section that manages the environment is now in Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Some people think this split was a deliberate attempt to divide and conqueror by the less than environmentally sensitive LNP. On top of splitting DERM up, many jobs were cut, and I have heard stories where one person now has to do the job that was done by four or five people. One would think that perhaps there will be a recruitment drive in the near future to replace these positions and make the departments work, but rumour has it that sections that are struggling because they receive minimal support will just be shut down instead of given a lifeline, even if they fill a vital role. SO, I doubt maintaining walking tracks in National Parks is a priority at the moment, especially when 4wdrivers are a priority since they are likely to be a constant source of revenue.

I think you have nailed it. The current government are not interested in loooking after our parks.
I hope they dont destroy our turtle nesting grounds where i live.

I can vouch for the lack of maintenence on the tracks in QLD.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[Hallu]

Yeah if it was litigation, you just put up some signs saying "we deny any responsibility in..." and that's it, you don't close the track. That's what the "careful dangerous/slippery cliffs, high tide, big surf etc..." signs are for.

I'm also wondering something : they call it "national" parks, even though they're managed by the states and the rules/websites/prices change from state to state, so how about the fees ? Are they distributed nationally and equally amongst all the parks (or maybe only for the state) or if you pay for a given park the money goes for this park and nothing else ?

[Pteropus]

I think you have nailed it. The current government are not interested in loooking after our parks.
I hope they dont destroy our turtle nesting grounds where i live.

I'm afraid that turtles, or any wildlife and habitat for that matter, are not a priority with the state government. They are very pro development, especially in the mining sector, at the expense of the environment. They constantly go on about cutting 'green tape' etc. There has been talk of logging in some National Parks for example.

I'm also wondering something : they call it "national" parks, even though they're managed by the states and the rules/websites/prices change from state to state, so how about the fees ? Are they distributed nationally and equally amongst all the parks (or maybe only for the state) or if you pay for a given park the money goes for this park and nothing else ?

It is as you say, that National Parks are managed by the states with different rules and priorities. I am not sure on the funding structure, but any revenue stays within the state coffers. Whether that money goes back into the National Parks or to some other sector, I don’t know. I doubt National Parks bring in much revenue though, since that is not their purpose. Also, in Qld we don't pay to enter the park, and only pay if we want to camp there. In NSW and Tas we pay to enter parks. How about Victoria and the other states? I would personally be happy to pay for a yearly pass or something in Qld and see more money sunk into parks though.

[Hallu]

I would personally be happy to pay for a yearly pass or something in Qld and see more money sunk into parks though.

Same here. In Victoria we only pay for camping too. It's great to be free to enter any NP without worrying about fees (in Rocky Cape NP, Tassie, I couldn't find those booths to pay the entry fees, I asked a roadhouse and they told me "don't bother the ranger's office is closed on week ends anyway") but I wouldn't mind putting in a hundred bucks for an annual pass. Besides I spoke to a guide from Darwin working for Adventure Tours and he told me basically that he would like to be a ranger but that the salary is way too low compared to what he's earning as a tour guide .

The Aussie government doesn't realize that there can be a huge amount of money to be made from National Parks, they should look at what the Americans did, Roosevelt created tens of thousands of jobs during the 1929 crisis by employing people to maintain and build infrastructures in the parks, and the people responded, NPs are now deeply implemented in American culture, have huge support, and when somebody's talking about putting a dam, logging or mining in an NP, there's a huge brawl against it. But in Australia, the notion of National Park isn't as sacred as in America. Here they're not very well selected, some barely qualify as a state park (like Churchill NP in Victoria for example), they're "national" but managed by the state, and there are way too many of them. Some people are gonna say that Australia's population is too low to take care of such a vast array of NPs, well then why not finally creating a national park service.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Actually, it's been the National Parks service that have protected the nesting Turtle beaches along our Coastline, in particular Mon Repos Beach near Bundaberg. If it was not for the National Parks service, there will be no turtles on our beaches nesting. Developers wanted to move in and and build Resorts at Mon Repos Beach and light the beach up at night so the guests could watch the turtles nesting and there was talk of putting in a Chair Lift along the beach so guests could look down onto the turtles. Although this could be because the Loggerhead Turtle are on the critically endangered list and this is why the area is protected, I think if it was not for that listing, we could be sitting here with no turtles nesting on our coast.

Over the past few years funding has been reduced for the Research Program, I hope this is not early signs of a future Disaster. There is one positive thing that I think will help our turtles is that the government does make some money from the turtle viewing tours that are conducted by the parks service at Mon Repos, which is mostly run by Volunteers. I used to be one of them for many years, Now I choose to volunteer with the research program. We are starting to rely on donations.

Where does this money go that the Parks Service make from the tourists paying for there tours?

We do have a new major threat, and that's development. More homes being built close to our coast and the city slowly expanding out over the years, has caused increased street lighting. I can see the early signs of the bright lights effecting our turtles, particularly at Mon Repos Beach.

[maddog]

I would personally be happy to pay for a yearly pass or something in Qld and see more money sunk into parks though.

Same here. In Victoria we only pay for camping too. It's great to be free to enter any NP without worrying about fees (in Rocky Cape NP, Tassie, I couldn't find those booths to pay the entry fees, I asked a roadhouse and they told me "don't bother the ranger's office is closed on week ends anyway") but I wouldn't mind putting in a hundred bucks for an annual pass.

The trouble with the imposition of an annual levy or entry fee being imposed to contribute to the upkeep of National Parks, is that we we may not see an overall increase in the budgets of the parks - just an increase in the rate of tax money being withdrawn (in a similar manner to which recreational hunting has allowed the NP budgets of be eroded in this area). In addition, any contribution scheme would need to allow for low income individuals and / or children. All citizens should have ready access to parks for the purpose of self-improvement. Bare in mind that the money available for conservation is, and always has been, minimal compared to the money available to infrastructure, development, etc.

By way of general comments. I have found that Parks management in Queensland to be far superior to that of NSW from a user perspective (eg compare the camping facilities at Green Mountain at Lamington NP to Rummery Park at Minyon Falls for example). And as for litigation, as the Parks are owned by the State, the State could legislate away any liability it has for bushwalkers for all but the most extreme negligence quite easily.

Cheers

[Hallu]

Yeah park management in NSW is as far as I can tell the worst of all the states I've visited (I haven't been to Queesland yet). Infos are hard to come by, especially online, roads and walking tracks aren't in the best of shape. It's not disastrous, the camping area in Mutawintji is great for example, but in terms of info Victoria is way ahead, and for infrastructures, I'd say Tassie (but they also charge the highest fees if I'm not mistaken).

[Pteropus]

Actually, it's been the National Parks service that have protected the nesting Turtle beaches along our Coastline, in particular Mon Repos Beach near Bundaberg. If it was not for the National Parks service, there will be no turtles on our beaches nesting. Developers wanted to move in and and build Resorts at Mon Repos Beach and light the beach up at night so the guests could watch the turtles nesting and there was talk of putting in a Chair Lift along the beach so guests could look down onto the turtles. Although this could be because the Loggerhead Turtle are on the critically endangered list and this is why the area is protected, I think if it was not for that listing, we could be sitting here with no turtles nesting on our coast.

Yeah, loggerhead turtles are protected federally by the EPBC Act, and so protection of nesting sites would receive support. However, expansion of coal loading facilities in places such as Gladstone and Bowen etc. cannot be good for marine life. New marine parks can help a little, but the effect on near and on-shore ecosystems has its impacts. It is tough being a species that is trying to compete with humans....

The trouble with the imposition of an annual levy or entry fee being imposed to contribute to the upkeep of National Parks, is that we we may not see an overall increase in the budgets of the parks - just an increase in the rate of tax money being withdrawn (in a similar manner to which recreational hunting has allowed the NP budgets of be eroded in this area).
...I have found that Parks management in Queensland to be far superior to that of NSW from a user perspective (eg compare the camping facilities at Green Mountain at Lamington NP to Rummery Park at Minyon Falls for example).

Unfortunately this is true, that money could be withdrawn. But it is being withdrawn anyhow....
As far as using Green Mountain and Rummery Park as respective examples to compare how different the Qld and NSW NPs are run, you are considering one of the most visited parks in the whole of Qld that is within easy access of a majority the state's population, with a park in northern NSW, far from the capital. I remember talking with a ranger at the Border Ranges NP many years ago, and he said that the Qld rangers just across the border used to look to NSW NPWS with envy about the overall support they got. That has changed somewhat, but in my experience, generally the closer the park is to a major population base, the better the management and facilities are. For example, the Royal National Park just south of Sydney is very popular and has excellent facilities and highly maintained compared to many other parks, and would be more comparable with Lamington than parks that are further away from people. Not that it should be that way, but thats just how the mop flops unfortunately.

[maddog]

As far as using Green Mountain and Rummery Park as respective examples to compare how different the Qld and NSW NPs are run, you are considering one of the most visited parks in the whole of Qld that is within easy access of a majority the state's population, with a park in northern NSW, far from the capital.. Not that it should be that way, but thats just how the mop flops unfortunately.

The Blue Mountains near Katoomba is similar to Lamington in that regard but the facilities are lacking, as they are with West Head NP, etc (though the trails are good). These may be properly regarded as Sydney parks. Another, and more direct comparison between the State offerings might be Bald Rock NP (NSW) vs Girraween NP (Qld). Many people from NSW go to Girraween and enjoy the superior facilities.

While it is probably fair to point out that NSW has proportionally a far greater area of of National Park than Queensland (about 12 vs 6% of total land area of the States respectively), there is also culture difference between the two parks services - and in NSW visitors are not a priority at any but a very few select parks. An example of the difference is Boonah and the Mt Barney National Park area, in contrast to NSW in the Woodenbong / Urbenville area directly over the border. Mt Barney area is actively promoted by QNPWS, whereas access to Parks in the nearby Woodenbong / Urbenville area within NSW (e.g. Edinburgh Castle, the Crown, the Beehive, Yabbra, etc) is certainly not promoted or facilitated by NSW NPWS. In fact, they seem happy that virtually nobody visits these areas at all.

Cheers

Last edited by maddog on Wed 05 Dec, 2012 3:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Kinsayder]

Whilst I think the various governments are far from blameless (*cough* Vote Green *cough*), I think there is an element of mythology at play. What I mean by this is that I don't think Australians are actually as "outdoorsy" as is made out. Unless outdoors is meant to include standing around a BBQ drinking VB or trying to ensure you're a skin cancer statistic down at the beach. I guess there are the oh so rugged types sitting in their air-conditioned/heated 4WDs in National Parks, that's outdoors, but really, not washing and driving over bumpy roads doesn't really put you in the club either. So that leaves us, the bushwalkers (I'm not doing a very good job of avoiding self-righteousness here, am I?) but really there aren't that many of us. There are a lot of casual, once-a-year types but people who really, really love and devote so much time and energy to this pursuit are hardly going to reach the the tens of thousands that would be needed for any impact in terms of protection and maintenance of NPs.

[Hallu]

I agree about the outdoorsy myth. Australians love to eat outside, but they don't love to go bushwalking : if there's no motor, beer or food involved, forget it. The average Australian I see (at least in Victoria) actually only stops for a couple of seconds at a lookout and then drives on, sometimes he even doesn't get out from the car. And when he actually bushwalks, he does it on a short walk, loudly with friends, having the same conversation he would at a BBQ with beers. That's the average Australian I've seen. He also runs away as soon as he sees a cloud, I recently did a week end in the Otways, taking the great ocean road, and because of a couple of (really) minor showers, it was mostly empty, even triplet falls or Cape Otway lightstation. He also loves camping, but usually it's not a base location to go bushwalking, the goal is just to camp, eat and have a few beers. From what I've seen in Little Desert or the Gippsland, the average Australian will prefer to take out his 4WD or his boat than his overnight pack. Same in Rocky Cape, Tassie, mostly boats (looking at you, walking on the beach rocks with a day pack, like a mad man), or in Mutawintji, NSW : grey nomads camping, lighting a fire at night, but not doing the interesting walking loop nearby.

From what we can see on this forum, there are more serious bushwalkers in Tasmania, but I don't know if it's representative of the population. Anyway I'm actually grateful that Australians don't bush-walk much, it means we have the tracks to ourselves most of the time.

[Pteropus]

Another, and more direct comparison between the State offerings might be Bald Rock NP (NSW) vs Girraween NP (Qld). Many people from NSW go to Girraween and enjoy the superior facilities.

Funny you mention Bald Rock and Girraween, because lots of people think that Bald Rock is Girraween. I once went on a camping trip with people from Brisbane that was explicitly organised to camp at Bald Rock. Most of the party ended up at Girraween despite explicit instructions with directions, and the other three of us, including myself, ended up at Bald Rock NP. We realised what happened but camped in our respective locations (and we preferred the quiet and uncrowded Bald Rock site). The next day we drove around to Girraween and caught up with the rest of the group and they thought that Bald Rock Creek camping area was what we meant by Bald Rock NP. Many other people in Queensland think the same thing, simply because people are not looking out-side their state. Once again, Bald Rock NP is far from Sydney, and few New South Welshmen or Queenslanders probably know its existence, or would discriminate it from Girraween, unless they are interested in looking at maps and guides etc.

[maddog]

the quiet and uncrowded Bald Rock site

In the current context, this sounds like a euphemism for unpopular.

QPWS do a very good job and NSW NPWS would do well to follow their lead. A track up Mount Lindesay would be great start.

Cheers

[north-north-west]

In Victoria tracks are mostly fine but they take ages to react and rebuild the ones damaged by floods : Grampians, Wilsons Prom, Brisbane Ranges. But I haven't seen areas closed for no good reason, just the occasional "revegetation area do not enter", that's it. Victoria also has probably the best parks website in Australia, with a free pdf factsheet for each park (even small state parks) with map, walks, etc... even though their maps are far from perfect. Other states, especially Tasmania and NSW could benefit from this example. Every brochure you can find in visitor centres should be available online. So I'd say all is good over here. ?

I wouldn't. There are relatively few tracks in the Vic Alps that get any sort of regular maintenance apart from a few well known areas like Buffalo. The big touristy areas such as the Prom and the Grampians get what little money there is for trackwork, and the rest are mostly ignored. But the roadside campgrounds and the 4WD tracks, oh yeah, THEY get maintained properly, get re-opened as soon as possible after fire/flood/storm damage . . .
It's political, of course, but geez it pisses me off. Too many tracks have been allowed to go back to the scrub.

[maddog]

There are relatively few tracks in the Vic Alps that get any sort of regular maintenance apart from a few well known areas like Buffalo. The big touristy areas such as the Prom and the Grampians get what little money there is for trackwork, and the rest are mostly ignored. But the roadside campgrounds and the 4WD tracks, oh yeah, THEY get maintained properly, get re-opened as soon as possible after fire/flood/storm damage . . .
It's political, of course, but geez it pisses me off. Too many tracks have been allowed to go back to the scrub.

Perhaps bushwalkers could be deputised to construct and / or maintain tracks. NPWS could supervise.

[Pteropus]

the quiet and uncrowded Bald Rock site

In the current context, this sounds like a euphemism for unpopular.

Or little known....

QPWS do a very good job and NSW NPWS would do well to follow their lead. A track up Mount Lindesay would be great start.

As in Mt Lindesay that stradles the border of Qld and NSW and is in both states? The one that requries serious rock climbing? A track up it? Seriously?

[maddog]

QPWS do a very good job and NSW NPWS would do well to follow their lead. A track up Mount Lindesay would be great start.

As in Mt Lindesay that stradles the border of Qld and NSW and is in both states? The one that requries serious rock climbing? A track up it? Seriously?

Absolutely. It would be an engineering achievement, but similar things have been done. A lot of great tracks were built in the last economic depression. Have a look at the National Pass (Wentworth Falls) as an example of what is possible:

http://www.nationalpass.com.au/media/index.php

NP_NationalPassPlate2_lg.jpg (171.46 KiB) Viewed 10276 times

[Pteropus]

I am familiar with National Pass. I am not sure that it is feasible to do this with Lindsey. According to Wikipedia, Mt Lindsey “offers few opportunities for rock-climbers, due to the unsound nature of the rock (decaying rhyolite). There is one steep and exposed scrambling route to the summit, rated at approximately grade 6-7, which starts at the south east corner of the upper cliffs. However, this is not a bushwalking route as such, and anyone making an ascent should have basic rock-climbing and abseiling skills, or be under the guidance of experienced rock-climbers.” I am sure if it was easy there would have been a track up a long time ago. Now days I think a lot of people would rather leave some places alone too.

As far as QPWS doing a better job than NSW NPWS, I have lived both sides of the border and think they both do a reasonable job with the meagre resources at hand. Picking two of Queensland’s more spectacular parks that are within spitting distance of the State’s most densely populated region, thus they are the most popular parks and receive funding for fantastic facilities, then comparing them with a couple of parks in NSW with less facilities and that are not so well known to the greater population on the other side of the border, is biased and does not reflect on either of the State’s NPs. Just like what NNW said about Victorian Parks, the States allocate the majority of their money for facilities to the ones that receive the most visitors. And after all, much of the ranger's work in all NPs involves maintaining picnic and camping grounds...more than one ranger has said to me they are glorified toilet cleaners and garbage collectors...many a truth was said in jest.

[maddog]

I am familiar with National Pass. I am not sure that it is feasible to do this with Lindsey. According to Wikipedia, Mt Lindsey “offers few opportunities for rock-climbers, due to the unsound nature of the rock (decaying rhyolite). There is one steep and exposed scrambling route to the summit, rated at approximately grade 6-7, which starts at the south east corner of the upper cliffs. However, this is not a bushwalking route as such, and anyone making an ascent should have basic rock-climbing and abseiling skills, or be under the guidance of experienced rock-climbers.” I am sure if it was easy there would have been a track up a long time ago. Now days I think a lot of people would rather leave some places alone too.

I never said it would be easy Pteropus, I said it would be an engineering achievement. For sections where the rock is in poor condition, an external structure could be fixed to the face of the rock such as the one pictured below. Once the funding problem is overcome, we are limited only by imagination - similar feats were possible 100 years ago (and without helicopters).

ladder - wentworth-trail.jpg (66.87 KiB) Viewed 10235 times

Yes, they need more money. But if they are given more money, particularly if walkers were to start making a direct contribution, it would be preferable if we got something for that contribution. In addition, many of the remaining inhabitants of the old logging towns would welcome the revival in their fortunes that visitors would bring, after the conversion of so many State Forests to National Parks in NSW undermined the economic basis of their existence. 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. Then quietly reflect on on the contrast with Boonah where visitors are welcomed to the surrounding area - and you will.

And after all, much of the ranger's work in all NPs involves maintaining picnic and camping grounds...more than one ranger has said to me they are glorified toilet cleaners and garbage collectors...

In NSW a Parks ranger is given control of an area, and has the assistance of helpers (labourers) for many tasks. Also note that in NSW most of the bins have been removed, and there are very few toilets provided, both consistent with the prevailing minimal service ethos of the day. So if what you say is correct, 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.

In the current political climate, the description of Parks ranger as a janitor, would be viewed by many as belittling, consistent with the views of many of the enemies of the parks, and as undermining the vital role they play in the complex task of land management.

Cheers

[Kinsayder]

I agree about the outdoorsy myth. Australians love to eat outside, but they don't love to go bushwalking : if there's no motor, beer or food involved, forget it. The average Australian I see (at least in Victoria) actually only stops for a couple of seconds at a lookout and then drives on, sometimes he even doesn't get out from the car. And when he actually bushwalks, he does it on a short walk, loudly with friends, having the same conversation he would at a BBQ with beers. That's the average Australian I've seen. He also runs away as soon as he sees a cloud, I recently did a week end in the Otways, taking the great ocean road, and because of a couple of (really) minor showers, it was mostly empty, even triplet falls or Cape Otway lightstation. He also loves camping, but usually it's not a base location to go bushwalking, the goal is just to camp, eat and have a few beers. From what I've seen in Little Desert or the Gippsland, the average Australian will prefer to take out his 4WD or his boat than his overnight pack. Same in Rocky Cape, Tassie, mostly boats (looking at you, walking on the beach rocks with a day pack, like a mad man), or in Mutawintji, NSW : grey nomads camping, lighting a fire at night, but not doing the interesting walking loop nearby.

From what we can see on this forum, there are more serious bushwalkers in Tasmania, but I don't know if it's representative of the population. Anyway I'm actually grateful that Australians don't bush-walk much, it means we have the tracks to ourselves most of the time.

Glad it's not just me then!