It’s getting harder and harder for environmental authorities to make sure weekend adventurers are doing the right thing in Australia’s wilderness, but South Australia’s National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers have come up with a unique solution.
Rangers in the Limestone Coast region are sending a helicopter to search the national parks for four-wheelers and motorcycles straying from the designated trails and tearing up the protected landscape.
Networks of trails run through national parks down the limestone coast, but many still choose to drive off the beaten track, disturbing archaeological sites, disrupting vegetation and accelerating erosion in the process.
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Beaches are particularly vulnerable to damage from vehicular traffic, given the soft terrain.
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ABC News reports that more than 200 people have been fined as a result of compliance checks over the Melbourne Cup weekend alone.
Both rangers and police can fine individuals for breaking the rules. Rangers can either issue an on-the-spot fine in the hundreds of dollars or escalate the matter to court, while police have the power to fine violators up to $2,500.
Limestone Coast District Ranger Ross Anderson says the use of a patrol helicopter helps reduce offending.
“We have quite a remote country and you can cover a lot more ground in a helicopter than you can on the ground or in a vehicle, Mr Anderson told CarExpert.
“It helps remind people to behave properly. It’s not just parks that have problems, people have problems on private lands too.
“It’s just the sheer number of visitors we get, a small percentage may be doing the wrong thing, but when you have thousands of vehicles coming through the year, a small percentage is a lot of people.
“There’s a lot of vegetation coming back into our coastal parks, but there are still issues and we just have to make sure we have an ongoing program.”
Patrols, both on the ground and in the air, will continue throughout the summer as the National Parks and Wildlife Service strives to protect the natural environment for future generations.
This is despite mixed responses to the use of a helicopter, which some well-mannered visitors consider intrusive and excessive.
“Based on the comments people are putting out on social media, it’s mixed,” Mr Anderson said.
“Some people think it’s a great idea, other people prefer a looser approach where they can do whatever they like.”
