allanmac
4x4 Earth Contributer
Cant remember trees being that black last time I was there just before Xmas Grumpy.
Sorry, probably being a .smartarse', but if it was me I'd remove the pic.
Dumb Move
- Thread starter mitschal02
- Start date
Cant remember trees being that black last time I was there just before Xmas Grumpy.
Sorry, probably being a .smartarse', but if it was me I'd remove the pic.
mitschal02
5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
Taken from the DSE Gippsland facebook page
03hilux
4x4 Earth Contributer
Im not usually one to assume things, however, I know with MY current and previous insurance, provided i have permission to be somewhere, ( whether or not its public or private land) if i have a claimable incident the insurance co. will pay up. So with the area being "closed" by the authorities, it would be fairly safe to assume the insurance co. WONT be paying for this one.
As for "he should pay all cost of his rescue". He may be issued a fine or two. But why charge someone a fee for rescueing another human. Havent we all done actions that require some sort of assistance?
Is the man "short of a quid" for such decisions? Look at the Tony Bulimore case. He sailed well below the norm, our government rescued him, he was greatful and thanked them, went back to the U.K and built another boat and got sponsorship to do it again. Now to me its actually the sponsors that were the "stupid" ones.
We all should have one big blessing in life. The guy survived what he did, and making him pay for the rescue, could kill him finacially.
Rant over
As for "he should pay all cost of his rescue". He may be issued a fine or two. But why charge someone a fee for rescueing another human. Havent we all done actions that require some sort of assistance?
Is the man "short of a quid" for such decisions? Look at the Tony Bulimore case. He sailed well below the norm, our government rescued him, he was greatful and thanked them, went back to the U.K and built another boat and got sponsorship to do it again. Now to me its actually the sponsors that were the "stupid" ones.
We all should have one big blessing in life. The guy survived what he did, and making him pay for the rescue, could kill him finacially.
Rant over
Grumpy
Moderator
Allan the closed sign at Merringtons is laying over the embankment on the right as you enter the track, DSE officers replaced it several times only to have the next person through pull it back out again. I thought the word got out pretty well to the public early in the piece as road blocks were set up by police at the Thompson dam end, Walhalla, Binns Rd and Matlock areas but it seems as soon as they were abandoned most just assumed the area was again open. Mate it's only keeping the honest ones out which seems to be the norm in life.
Digger1982
Member
Yeah i thought it was the same crossing. I cannot believe the difference in the water level! They must of had a lot of rain up there or released water from the Dam.
Clearly this guy was a fool for attempting to cross a swollen, deep, fast flowing river!!
I really believe there are confusing messages about the area being closed or open. The reason I say this is because no News broadcast ever stated that the area is closed nor are there easy to find links on dse or parks website to advise of closures in the area due to the fires.
At the end of the day, if someone is going to go to any area, they need to have some common sense! This fools action will have an impact on the rest of us!
Hi All,
A lot of people were camped in the area over the Long Weekend. A bloke l know was adament that the area was 'open'. He based this view on the fact there were other people there, so it must be!
I must admit, l haven't found an alert or notice on 4WD Vic or DEPI's webiste about the closures. However, l am well aware the area remains off-limits.
As for old mate in the Aberfeldy River, well, anyone could see that river is swollen and fast flowing. Crazy idea even attempting to cross. Me thinks he'll have a finance company chasing him for some cash soon for a certain written off LC.
Mike
A lot of people were camped in the area over the Long Weekend. A bloke l know was adament that the area was 'open'. He based this view on the fact there were other people there, so it must be!
I must admit, l haven't found an alert or notice on 4WD Vic or DEPI's webiste about the closures. However, l am well aware the area remains off-limits.
As for old mate in the Aberfeldy River, well, anyone could see that river is swollen and fast flowing. Crazy idea even attempting to cross. Me thinks he'll have a finance company chasing him for some cash soon for a certain written off LC.
Mike
mitschal02
5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
If you google " national state park closure" it gives you the link.
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/about-us/...ures-around-mount-feathertop-and-mount-beauty
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/about-us/...ures-around-mount-feathertop-and-mount-beauty
Ah. Thanks.
The bigger issue is, that when you look up indivdual park pages on the PV website, it does not say the area is closed?!
You can even look up Aberfeldy River Campground and it is all business as usual! No mention of closures.
So you cant really blame people for entering the area. As previously mentioned, much of the PV/DEPI signage as been ditched.
For PV not to keep their Website up to date is unacceptable.
Mike
The bigger issue is, that when you look up indivdual park pages on the PV website, it does not say the area is closed?!
You can even look up Aberfeldy River Campground and it is all business as usual! No mention of closures.
So you cant really blame people for entering the area. As previously mentioned, much of the PV/DEPI signage as been ditched.
For PV not to keep their Website up to date is unacceptable.
Mike
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RIZ4WD
Member
Just to let you all know, it was my friends uncle who was airlifted out of the water. The dogs got rescued at 3am this morning and are both fortunately uninjured.... the crew he was with and him self are very experienced 4wders and know the area very well and i guess just were overly confident and complacent and didnt think things through.
Swaggie
Moderator
Believe it or not its a fine line (even metres) between he's a 'legend' or what a 'tool' status....
It can happen to the best of us,constant river crossings helps to understand what your vehicle can and cannot do,being in a closed off area doesn't help his cause..
Glad the dog's are fine too.
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Grumpy
Moderator
I'm sure the average person could quite easily be caught out and as I said previously a bloke with us and with heaps of experience got caught out too at the same crossing because he had a lapse in memory I'm sure, but one would think experienced 4x4ers would think things through before attempting a crossing like that. Believe me most 4x4ers just wouldn't realise how quick things can turn pear shaped even in some of the simplest of situations. glad the dogs got out ok but fancy attempting a rescue of them at night.
cookie64
4x4 Earth Contributer
Yes he did stuff up - big time, I reckon I'd be in tears if that happened to me.
I did have a mishap where someone (camped stranger) told me the "right line" to come through only to find it wasn't - water up & over my boots inside the car, fortunately it was a hot day ( Simpson @ Eyre Creek ) so the car dried out quickly, and he actually found it somewhat humourous until I offered to "calibrate" his funny bone. So yes we can all stuff up.
I can imagine the report now,
Dear Minister
given the resources required to extract this man from the raging waters who gave no heed to road closed signs or in fact showed no signs of common sense and he owns a 4wd I respectfully submit that we close all tracks in the area on a permanent basis.
Ranger FOS
Let's hope the powers realise this is not the norm
cheers
I did have a mishap where someone (camped stranger) told me the "right line" to come through only to find it wasn't - water up & over my boots inside the car, fortunately it was a hot day ( Simpson @ Eyre Creek ) so the car dried out quickly, and he actually found it somewhat humourous until I offered to "calibrate" his funny bone. So yes we can all stuff up.
I can imagine the report now,
Dear Minister
given the resources required to extract this man from the raging waters who gave no heed to road closed signs or in fact showed no signs of common sense and he owns a 4wd I respectfully submit that we close all tracks in the area on a permanent basis.
Ranger FOS
Let's hope the powers realise this is not the norm
cheers
Digger1982
Member
Wow that's interesting! Just goes to show how much rain they have had up there. Do u think the will rebuild Junction hut?
It appeared to me as though this happened at junction crossing below where junction hut once stood.
The problem with this crossing is part of the river bed basically forms a large island in the middle making it usually 2 river crossings but when the rivers come up it becomes one massive crossing.
Making matters worse the middle 'island' when the river level is at its usual lower level it isnt one level area at all, it usually has a number of sometimes deep 'dips' in the surface making navigation through this area impossible during times when the river is up and covering this usually exposed section.
I have no idea what happened but my guess would be this bloke attempted the crossing, clearly making it across would would be usually the first crossing when heading upstream and he may have become unstuck in one of the deeper 'dips' while driving along that usually exposed section...
Travis.
The problem with this crossing is part of the river bed basically forms a large island in the middle making it usually 2 river crossings but when the rivers come up it becomes one massive crossing.
Making matters worse the middle 'island' when the river level is at its usual lower level it isnt one level area at all, it usually has a number of sometimes deep 'dips' in the surface making navigation through this area impossible during times when the river is up and covering this usually exposed section.
I have no idea what happened but my guess would be this bloke attempted the crossing, clearly making it across would would be usually the first crossing when heading upstream and he may have become unstuck in one of the deeper 'dips' while driving along that usually exposed section...
Travis.