Photo: Qld DETSI
Keep your four-wheel-drives off the saltpans or risk losing them, North Queensland drivers have been warned.
The Qld Environment Department says 4WD enthusiasts in the Townsville region are at risk of bogging their vehicle down and writing it off.
The warning follows an incident in September when a Toyota Hilux was bogged to the axels and stuck on the saltpans at Cape Cleveland for almost six weeks.
Senior conservation officer Craig Dunk says the owner tried to drive across the saltpan in the Bowling Green Bay National Park.
“We don’t want anyone getting bogged on the saltpans and there are locations in the Townsville region where people can lawfully test their four-wheel-drive skills and their vehicles,” Dunk says.
“Four-wheel-drive enthusiasts need to protect the environment and their vehicles by staying off the saltpans.”
Dunk said the Hilux owner tried to drive about three kilometres across the saltpan to reach a creek but only made it halfway across before he had to abandon the vehicle.
It was reported to the department on September 23, 2024, but bad weather delayed its retrieval until November 5.
“During that time, it was inundated by several king tides and exposed to heavy rain. It is likely that it will be written off,” Dunk says.
“Once the thick saltpan crust is broken a vehicle will quickly sink to the axels. This is an expensive price to pay for disregarding the environment.”
This vehicle was abandoned on a saltpan for almost six weeks last year. Photo: Qld DETSI
PENALTIES
Dunk says nature conservation laws makes it an offence to drive or ride a vehicle into restricted sections of a protected area with fines for leaving access tracks.
“We issued a $322 fine to the Hilux owner and issued fines to two other people who recently became bogged in our protected areas,” he says.
“Saltpans in Bowling Green Bay National Park are listed under the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance, and the maximum penalty for unauthorised use of a vehicle in a protected area is $3226.”
Dunk explains that driving on saltpans damages the crust, uproots vegetation, causes soil compaction and erosion, disturbs bird and crustacean populations and can contaminate the environment.
“They are critical parts of our marine ecosystems and support hidden life, including saline or brackish sedgelands, crustaceans, worms and birdlife.”
Information about what roads or tracks are approved can be found at https://parks.desi.qld.gov.au/parks.
