EX Border Fence Track

[Eddy]

Took me a bit of a trip down the border fenceline over the weekend.................Shoodna bothered! :'( :'( :'(
What used to be a great little tour, or a series of fun little drives; - ...... is now................ ??? ::) :P.............stuffed.
Has the world gone completely mad!?!
:( >:( :( >:( >:( >:( ??? :'( :'( :'(

[cookie monster]

Took me a bit of a trip down the border fenceline over the weekend.................Shoodna bothered! :'( :'( :'(
What used to be a great little tour, or a series of fun little drives; - ...... is now................ ??? ::) :P.............stuffed.
Has the world gone completely mad!?!
:( >:( :( >:( >:( >:( ??? :'( :'( :'(



hi eddy
cookie monster here.
we did the border track november last year and it was a great weekend.
what made the track so crap in september??
i know that most of the 4wd clubs around adelaide had people go down there along with the park rangers on the october long weekend to do track maintenance.
would be interested in your responce as am always looking for new tracks to try.
got any other good tracks to tell of, around adelaide.

[GUJohnno]

Anyone got an update on this track??

[Eddy]

When I went down there in Sept last year the Parks yobbos had been through with some dozers etc & put up notices, declaring that any further travel on that section was in breach of section somethingorother of some particular regulation pertaining to some act of parliament etc etc etc blah blah blah. Don't know whats going on there now but, will try to find out.

[slowlux]

if you look at pats editorial in issue 56 i think it is, he talks about it. I think it's all been graded to about the width of three laneways, all the sanddunes have been cut down and yeah.....GRADED!! i think anyway, read the editorial in issue 56

[Eddy]

From Dept for Environment and Heritage....

"The border Track is open but is only ONE WAY for portion of the way [from northern boundary of the Park to approx half way]. Occassionally closed for maintenance or when high fire risk. For detailed enquiry contact Lameroo office."

Mallee District Office
Railway Tce North,
Lameroo SA 5302
Phone (08) 8576 3690

[cookie monster]

just got the Oposite Lock news letter the other day. it has a little report on the 'Mildura' branch going down the boarder track and onto robe.
quote.
"it certainly didnt let us down" says OL Milduras Jeremy Cooke. "There were some very challenging sections near the south end of the track.... we were down to 15-20psi in our tyres and having a great time!"
unquote.
doesnt say when they went though?
cookie monster

[slowlux]

it's so annoying when you cant find out enough information on tracks (border track inparticular) no-ones willing to tell you anything about it! if it is still open, i'd really like to go down there

[GUJohnno]

We did this two years ago and we all had a ball. The dunes were quite big and very soft. Would love to do it again if it's worth my while.
The track will be open its just a matter of what condition its in.

[slowlux]

i dont think it's the same as it was, parts have been graded i'm pretty sure, thats going byclub reports.

[slowlux]

I found this on the SA Association Of Four Wheel Drive clubs

www.saafwdc.asn.au

Border Track Article - 4x4 Australia, December 2003

Ron Moon got it right in the October 2003 issue of 4x4Australia when he panned four wheel drivers for attempting desert crossings in two wheel drive and for not lowering tyre pressures when travelling on sand and other soft surfaces. Lower pressures are easier on tyres in rocky terrain as well and are certainly easier on tracks, as Ron pointed out.

It is just this behaviour, and worse, that has put the glorious Border Track, in the Ngarkat Conservation Park along the SA-Vic border, in real danger of being lost forever, if it hasn't already. This track, on the National Register of 4x4 destinations, has long been cared for by 4x4 Clubs from SA, with help from Victorian 4x4 Clubs, particularly at Red Bluff Camp. A large fire in the adjacent Big Desert Wilderness focussed attention on access for fire fighting and the unsuitability of the Border Track for fire fighting vehicles. In recent years continued abuse by four wheel drivers attempting the major dunes in two wheel drive, or attempting to tow trailers over the dunes, has degraded the dunes. Not prepared to back down, drivers have persisted, or created new sidetracks part way up the dunes, sometimes two or three sidetracks in places.

Toward the Southern end of the track the clay swales between the dunes and the track South of the dune section has been abused to the extent that mud holes more than twenty metres long, and deep enough to submerged a Landcruiser to the roof gutter, have been created. Worse, these are now seen as a further challenge by some who care little for the destruction they are causing.

Well its now come to this. The Border Track was temporarily closed, and may still be closed, denying the responsible four wheel driver the sand driving experience and remote desert beauty this area has to offer, unique in Southern Australia and within reasonable distance of Melbourne and Adelaide. A wide fire break has been cleared to the West of the dunes and a track formed along this break that will allow fire fighting vehicles access.

The indiscriminate and illegal use of motorcycles and four wheel drives along this track, combined with the high usage rate, has all but destroyed Ngarkat Border track. Four wheel drivers and motorcyclists can blame no one else for this closure. No other vehicles can negotiate this track, and no other vehicle has caused the damage and destruction. Sadly those who caused the damage probably wont know or care.

Four Wheel Drive South Australia is talking with National Parks & Wildlife SA in an attempt to reach a workable solution that may see the Border Track, or at least parts of it, open again. It will need a lot of hard negotiation to convince NPWSA that a workable track management regime can be established for the Border Track. It may mean that the track is closed more often when wet conditions could mean that use would cause track damage, or extreme dry conditions increase the fire risk.

In the meantime the track may remain closed and before you plan any trips along the order Track contact the NPWSA at Lameroo on 08 85763890, or email Paul Unsworth at unsworth.paul@saugov.sa.gov.au for advice on conditions and other relevant information.

What can you, as a responsible four wheel driver, do to prevent a repeat of this disgraceful situation? For a start you can report any deliberate track abuse to park management or the police. Its either that or say good bye to more tracks - your choice. The ANFWDC and its State 4x4 Association members do not condone track abuse and will support any moves to identify and eradicate irresponsible four wheel drivers.

[Simon]

The tools wana close it because of "enviromental" damage, but its ok to atack the place with a bulldozer ::)

The "damage" is already done so whats wrong with people still diving on the "old" track??

Theres a bit here on it too

http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=7582&postdays=0&postorder=asc&star t=0

The tools wana close it because of "enviromental" damage, but its ok to atack the place with a bulldozer ::)

The "damage" is already done so whats wrong with people still diving on the "old" track??



i disagree with the attitude of " the damage is done, lets keep doing it" there needs to be a more responsible attitude in place.


I hate to see tracks close, but the sad fact is they are being damaged by people not using them properly.
if it wasn't for clowns tearing up the track, and towing trailers etc the track would still be there, im afraid half the people who whinge about track closures are the ones that cause track closures in the first place.. people need to start showing a bit of responsability and driving these tracks properly, not trying to show how tough they can be by going as far as possible in 2wd, and if a track is recommended as NO TRAILERS then don't go up there with a trailer

[Simon]

Well I agree with that croozer, but when someone has built a new road alonside an old track whats wrong with still using the old track?

Any damage, enviromental or otherwise is done the minute a track is made, track deteroration is not enviromental damage, it just makes it more uncomfortable for future users of the track.

Fire access is always refered to in these track closure cases, but the fact is if a fire starts in a remote place like that you cant do much about it anyway, it has to be fought when it comes out in the open.
What realy makes me laugh is when tracks are closed permenently, like with great logs, boulders or ditches, allowing the tracks to grow over and become impassable, makes for less fire access than having rough tracks ::)

[grimbo]

Well I'm leaving in about 2 hours for the Border track so I'll let you all know what it is like when i get back next week. We have sopken to the rangers at Pinnaroo and they said it was open, we shall see.

[slowlux]

good stuff

[grimbo]

Well had a great time. We were supposed to do Border Track but it turns out it was closed on Thursday because the ranger got bogged. Supposedly it had rained heavily during the week and they decided to shut it. This was news to the police at the quarantine stop on the border but hey.

Instead we decided to go to the Big Desert and Wyperfield NP as we hadn't been there before. First night we stayed at Big Billy camp spot. Really nice quiet, remote camping ground with camping tables and fire pits with grills. Did a bit of a drive around the area. Amazing to see the damage to the desert by the fires 18 months ago.

Had a play on a steep dune track. Brendan and myself made it to about 3 feet from the top and Steve in my Dads Landcruiser ute made it to about 10 feet. Very steep and soft sand.

Saturday we drove across from Bi Billy down Milmed Rock Track across to Hopetoun. Took a while to get across but great driving, lots of steep soft sand sections, windy sandy roads and the transformation from burnt area to heavily vegetated.

After filling up at Hopetoun we headed north on the bitumen to get to Casaurina Camp ground in the Wyperfield NP. After trying to make head or tails of the woeful maps and numerous dead ends we made it in at about 5:30. Again a fantastic campground with tables, fire pits and drop toilets.

Sunday was spent having a look at the NP, lots of fast sand driving, nothing to challenging except maybe climbing the Snowdrift, a very steep fine white sand dune. Went to a few of the other lookouts and had an early happy hour. Beautifully clear night with thousands of stars and a bit of an astronomy lesson from my brother (the last couple of years as a tour guide has paid off)

Monday we headed off back south thru the park to Wonga campground. Huge camp area very well catered but straying very close to being like a caravan park. A good option if you only have a car and want to do hikes etc.

All in all a fantastic weekend, the Patrol was awesome never had any problems. The plans are under way to tackle Cape York next year

I'll post some pics over the next couple of days

[slowlux]

sounds like you had fun

so the border track is still open?

[grimbo]

sounds like you had fun

so the border track is still open?


ummm no, did you read the first line ???

[Simon]

Well had a great time. We were supposed to do Border Track but it turns out it was closed on Thursday because the ranger got bogged. Supposedly it had rained heavily during the week and they decided to shut it. This was news to the police at the quarantine stop on the border .



LOL, Im glad that they dont shut a track every time a ranger gets bogged ::) (I had t tow one out on saturday, he had "all the gear and no idea")

What were the police doing at the border? :o




Had a play on a steep dune track. Brendan and myself made it to about 3 feet from the top and Steve in my Dads Landcruiser ute made it to about 10 feet. Very steep and soft sand.




Did you let your tyres down? ???

Last time I had a drive around up there the sandhills wernt enough to stop most capable 4x4s.
(you wanna be careful too, thats what started this whole saga, people digging up the tracks through the sandhills on the border track ;))

[grimbo]

Well had a great time. We were supposed to do Border Track but it turns out it was closed on Thursday because the ranger got bogged. Supposedly it had rained heavily during the week and they decided to shut it. This was news to the police at the quarantine stop on the border .



LOL, Im glad that they dont shut a track every time a ranger gets bogged ::) (I had t tow one out on saturday, he had "all the gear and no idea")

What were the police doing at the border? :o




Had a play on a steep dune track. Brendan and myself made it to about 3 feet from the top and Steve in my Dads Landcruiser ute made it to about 10 feet. Very steep and soft sand.




Did you let your tyres down? ???

Last time I had a drive around up there the sandhills wernt enough to stop most capable 4x4s.
(you wanna be careful too, thats what started this whole saga, people digging up the tracks through the sandhills on the border track ;))


The police were at the fruit fly quarantine stop on the border.

We did let our tyres down, the dune in question is on a side track off the main Murrayville - Nhill Track. The top 6 feet or so is very deep soft sand. We each had a go and deemed that was enough as we didn't want to churn it up having multiple goes

[4.8GU]

Better late then never. Border Track is still open. We went at the biginning of April 2004 on our loop around to the Otways (Calder Ridge road in the Otways very good for those heading that way. Great Track with awesome creek crossing near end). Was a little bored with some part but others were pretty good. Pretty bumpy through some but if you ask me doesn't look like bulldozers have been through! Some parts fairly closed in by scrub and sand dunes were the best. Was a good drive and did it in a couple of hours. Drove Adelaide - Horsham along the Track from pinnaroo in 1 day but no regrets in going.