Whispers of a new track?

[Stoneycreek]

Hi all
I've heard rumours about about a variety of groups/individuals wanting to explore putting a new track from wellington national park through to the snowy range. Has anyone else heard about this proposed track and if so do you know who is driving it, if anyone?

cheers

[ILUVSWTAS]

I'd be pretty surprised if this was true. West Wellington is controlled by Forestry, and the Snowy range is considered a fairly fragile environment and PW dont like having tracks up there.

[Drifting]

Welcome Stoneycreek- BTW

[Stoneycreek]

Thanks Drifting Iluvswtas, who is PW?

So why,how or where do new walking tracks get instigated?

[Braden]

A few weeks ago when I was heading up to the Lost Worlds via Old Hobartian's track, I did happen to stumble across a new track being cut through the bush about a 1/3 of the way up. There was a sign which said "No Access, work in progress." I didn't see much though, just a lot of cleared trees, new rocks, and a creek crossing. Exciting stuff.

[tastrax]

Hi all
I've heard rumours about about a variety of groups/individuals wanting to explore putting a new track from wellington national park through to the snowy range. Has anyone else heard about this proposed track and if so do you know who is driving it, if anyone?

cheers

Well that's a fair distance with a mix of land tenures (including private) but I can assure you its not the Parks and Wildlife Service behind it. Wellington Park is not actually a national park and in the current economic climate I cant see forestry jumping on a large scale track development on their land.

I would suggest a look at The Wellington park track strategy initially but I cant remember anything listed along those lines.

http://www.wellingtonpark.org.au/walkin ... trategies/

[tastrax]

Thanks Drifting Iluvswtas, who is PW?

So why,how or where do new walking tracks get instigated?

PW is likely to be Parks and Wildlife Service. In general there are very few new tracks built, especially long distance ones, as they cost millions (just look at Three Capes proposal). These days there is an expectation that any new major track would be close to self funding hence it needs a commercial focus more than a recreational focus.

Any track like you are suggesting would probably have to come from a joint private/government initiative and again the only one on the horizon is Three Capes.

[north-north-west]

From the Wellington Park track Strategy thingy:

A number of potential new walking track links were identified with the advice and knowledge of the WTWG. These link opportunities were:
constructing a new link off the Big Bend Trail to the large car park (located about 500m past Big Bend on Pinnacle Road) and a continuation from the car park to the start of Lost World (thus creating a more central, convenient and safer parking situation);
developing a new link from the Chalet to the Pinnacle thus avoiding the safety concerns of walkers on Pinnacle Road;
investigating the potential of tracks that could link Glenorchy City to the Pinnacle (e.g. Old Hobartians Track) given that previously owned private land has now been acquired by the Hobart City Council;
finding an alternative route for the Pipeline Track to Wellington Falls to by-pass the landslip areas and water quality concerns with St Crispins Well (currently being investigated by the Hobart City Council);
avoiding wet areas by finding a better route to Mt Montagu;
building a new access loop from New Town Falls;
upgrading a link between Strickland Avenue and Strickland Falls;
providing a link from Circle Track back to Shoobridge Bend (thus avoiding walkers using Pinnacle Road);
relocating the track to Trestle Mountain given the inappropriate track location, poor condition and multiple routes/marking; and
creating a short return loop at Myrtle Forest.

[ollster]

the only one on the horizon is Three Capes.

Laaaaaaaaaaaame.

[kuriaken]

Hey Ollster lighten up man.
Phil

[ollster]

Hey Ollster lighten up man.
Phil

Hey Phil, thanks! I still think it's a pretty lame idea, and as I pay my parks fees and *actually live in Tasmania* I think I'm entitled to a say.

I think PAWS are creating a track based on a series of routes for purely commercial interests.

The existing routes are fine "for what they are". I think it's not really a very good showcase of the state and I think the walking out that way is pretty bland. Seriously, work should be done into maintaining the existing tracks and facilities to a higher standard than pissing my park fees away on non-consulted, ill conceived white elephants (Bert Nichols Hut) and trying to artificially create a world class walking track by joining up a couple of coastal walks. I've walked to all 3 capes, included a multi day walk out to Pillar, and they're nice, but the walking is hardly anything to write home about.

I also think it's even lamer that this seems to be the ONLY one on the horizon (according to the above statement).

[kuriaken]

Got to agree with you on the Bert Nichols ! An inconceived barn from my experience. Would love to know the design rationale behind it ? Rather use the tent anyway.
Phil

[ollster]

Got to agree with you on the Bert Nichols ! An inconceived barn from my experience. Would love to know the design rationale behind it ? Rather use the tent anyway.
Phil

It's an abomination of the highest order. Sad thing is with a few fairly minor tweaks here and there in the design stage it could have been awesome.

Oh, and that wire art is total *&%$#!.

ok, I'll lighten up now.

[Stoneycreek]

ok the true scope of my ignorance is about to be revealed... so what makes a great bush walking track ( and just for now lets not included the make your own kind)? I'm also getting the feeling that huts are not to everyone's taste?

[wander]

Terrain.

[PeterJ]

A few weeks ago when I was heading up to the Lost Worlds via Old Hobartian's track, I did happen to stumble across a new track being cut through the bush about a 1/3 of the way up. There was a sign which said "No Access, work in progress." I didn't see much though, just a lot of cleared trees, new rocks, and a creek crossing. Exciting stuff.

This is part of the East-West track from Springs to Glenorchy; built mostly to cater for bike riders.

[north-north-west]

Got to agree with you on the Bert Nichols ! An inconceived barn from my experience. Would love to know the design rationale behind it ? Rather use the tent anyway.
Phil

When I was there they had a multi-page explanation of the design's main features, from the architects. A load of ****** arty-farty waffle (IMNSHO). For instance, the high ceilings are to avoid a feeling of claustrophobia. Never mind the possibility of hypothermia, at least you won't feel cramped in there.
Keep the architects out of it, and get walkers to design the new huts. At least they'll be functional.

[Nuts]

I cant say that I really like the design as is. However, human Nature, and its flock effect, has led to all sorts of unsubstantiated opinions (dun dun daaaar...).
The hut actually insulates quite well on the lower level

I noticed it was quite a bit warmer inside (heater hadn't been going) one morning so I checked the temperature inside and out with my fob, we have checked the temperature a few times since. It is always shows a constant 4/5c higher than outside.... how about that?....

They could, though,, have made better use of that high space to put in a few more bedrooms. Maybe it could be fixed with an open loft shelf accessed from the bedroom hall or something?


(there, now ive given My humble opinion, nothing more needs to be said, back to the topic,, har ar)

[north-north-west]

Opinions do not require substantiation. They simply exist. Mine exists for a very good reason - I've been there, spent a night in the hut, read the bull from the architects, and remembered the old hut with wistful affection.
The new one is too big, with wasted space, a ridiculously complicated setup, a highly unfunctional 'drying room' and the leakiest roof in Tasmania. Something simple and functional could have been built at half the cost by keeping the architects out of it and using a tried and proven plan such as the New Pelion set-up.

[ollster]

For instance, the high ceilings are to avoid a feeling of claustrophobia.

WAT? Never mind that you're later sleeping on bunks, in a sleeping bag, eh?

[Nuts]

New Pelion Hut had an architect

[north-north-west]

New Pelion Hut had an architect

It shows. But not half as much as at windy Fridge.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Windy Fridge...

I spent one night i the new hut recently and never will again! Several of us decided there was no way we were sleeping in the bedrooms, they felt like freezers! So we slept (among a few other groups) in the main room in front of the fire!!

And anyone who gets claustrophobic sleeping in a hut wouldnt survive in a tent and should not leave the comforts of their homes.

[Singe]

I think PAWS are creating a track based on a series of routes for purely commercial interests.

The existing routes are fine "for what they are".

Agree with you here; there's no good reason to re-route the existing tracks (especially through a known phytophthora area) and definitely no need for the over development that is proposed.

I wouldn't blame Parks for that though, the directive came from the very top as I recall. So I guess the answer to Stoneycreek's question: "So why,how or where do new walking tracks get instigated?" is that someone decides they could make a bob or two out of a private venture and buys the Premier lunch.

[ollster]

someone decides they could make a bob or two out of a private venture and buys the Premier lunch.

Sadly, I think this reflects reality in this case. This is not a track for the people of Tasmania.

[Nuts]

Opinions do not require substantiation.

I guess there is no point in offering facts then

[flatfoot]

Edit ... Posted in wrong place. I moved my post on the Three Capes Track to here:
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=563&p=71236#p71236

[Liamy77]

keeping people off pinnacle road from the chalet to peak was mentioned..... so what the heck is the organ pipe track that joins the zigzag? - i must have missed all the cars driving up that way every time i walked up there?!!! am i missing something here in regards to wellington park [checks my maps] Nope the zigzag track does exist - i didn't dream it!

[johnw]

keeping people off pinnacle road from the chalet to peak was mentioned..... so what the heck is the organ pipe track that joins the zigzag? - i must have missed all the cars driving up that way every time i walked up there?!!! am i missing something here in regards to wellington park [checks my maps] Nope the zigzag track does exist - i didn't dream it!

No you didn't dream it . Over the Xmas break I walked the Organs Pipes track myself starting from the Chalet, just as a quick out and back to fill in an hour or two. Great little short walk, only marginally spoiIt by powerlines obscuring some views. I'm guessing the issue is that it isn't a direct route to the summit. You walk away from it to link up with the Zig Zag track (which is a brilliant walk to the top IMHO). So presumably they walk partially up the road instead. Why anyone would want to I'll never understand. But let's face it these are mainly tourist tracks and some people can be very lazy.

[north-north-west]

If you want to do a circuit you have to spend two short sections on the road, from the Chalet to the start of the Panorama Track, and then from the top of it back to the carpark. Maybe that's what they want to eliminate.