Closed outback areas

[Tony Russell <>]

Access to Pastoral Leases  South Australia.


Following up on some of the difficulties birders
have reported in regard to being put off pastoral leases in SA, I have
spoken with the SA Pastoral Board explaining what has recently been
occurring.
First let me thank those people who responded to my email in this matter,
your comments and contributions helped in my discussions with the
Board.
In SA there has been a change to legislation such that the public no
longer have right of access on government surveyed roads unless they are
on foot. Access by motor vehicle, horse, or camel is at the discretion of
the property management. This includes camping.
The Govt recognises that this is a difficult topic and is trying to do
the right thing by both the lessees and the public, and to this end the
legislation states that the property managers have the right to deny
access on the grounds of dangerous conditions, possible risk to stock, or
any other rationale they consider reasonable at the time.
On the other hand it recognises that some sectors of the public, in
particular members of scientific and natural history study groups, may
have reason to request access and are unlikely to be perpetrators of the
sorts of vandalism and littering experienced by some property
managers.
By way of attempting some sort of trade-off the lessees and govt have
agreed that a network of access tracks will be established for public
use, but as yet only eight of these have been put in place, the remainder
(how many?) await funding.
The best hope the Board could give to persons wishing to enter a
leasehold property is to contact the management , explain your reason for
requiring access, and hope you are granted permission. 
This is no different to what most birders would do anyway as a matter of
politeness.
Perhaps Birds Australia should lead the way by making formal application
on behalf of birders in general, establishing some guidelines for us all
to follow.
So, in South Aust at least, be careful entering leasehold properties. The
management have every right to deny access and to remove persons not
granted prior approval.

Hope this is easier to read than an attachment.
Tony.

   ADELAIDE BIRDING with Tony Russell. South Australia by 4WD

   phone : 08 8337 5959  , o/s 61 8 8337 5959

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