Queensland Parks Rangers call for improved visitor behaviour

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is calling for improved visitor behaviour this Anzac Day long weekend having issued 21 fines over the Easter weekend in the Lockyer Valley and at Main Range.

Senior Ranger Compliance Luke Male said Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were handed out to people who unlawfully rode motorbikes, didn’t wear seatbelts, ignored road closed signs, took dogs into national parks and camped without permits.

Male advised “we conducted compliance patrols over the Easter long weekend in Lockyer National Park, Lockyer State Forest and Main Range National Park.

“We interacted with over 400 people across the weekend, and we’re disappointed that we had to issue 21 fines, with a total value of $5,361.

“It is obvious that some visitors are disregarding their safety and the safety of others, and are treating national parks and State forests like they are in their own backyards.

“The recent rain bomb event has impacted many dirt roads in national parks and State forests, and QPWS closed these roads and issued park alerts on the internet page in order to protect public safety and prevent further damage occurring.”

Unfortunately, a number of people disregarded the closure signs and simply drove around the signs.

Male added “people were riding motorbikes without licences, drove unregistered vehicles and a teenager was found riding a motorbike without wearing a helmet on a closed road.

“His parent was issued with two fines, and received advice from QPWS rangers and Queensland Police Service officers.”

Fines issued include:

• 7 PINs issued for failure of vehicle operator to comply with road closed signs

• 3 PINs issued for unregistered operation of a motorbike

• 1 PIN issued for unlicenced operator of a motorbike

• 1 PIN issued for bringing an unregistered vehicle into a State forest

• 1 PIN issued for persons having body parts outside of a moving vehicle

• 1 PIN issued for a person not wearing a seat belt

• 1 PIN issued to a person who disposed of hot ashes / coals in vegetation

• 4 PINs issued for persons camping without an authority

• 2 PINs issued for person for keeping animals (dogs) in the protected area.

Male said people could expect to see rangers on patrol in the national parks and State forests across the upcoming long weekend including Anzac Day and May long weekend.

“We don’t want to see children with their upper bodies outside of a sunroof on a moving vehicle, or people not wearing seatbelts,” he said.

“We want people to enjoy themselves in our beautiful parks and forests, and we don’t want to have to call triple-zero because of an avoidable emergency.

“Many visitors we spoke with during the Easter weekend were appreciative of our compliance efforts, and they were surprised with the wide range of offences we had to deal with.

“National parks and State forests are not racetracks or your personal playground. They are for conservation and the enjoyment and benefit of all visitors.”

Image: Dirt bike riding Credit: Tobit Nazar Nieto Hernandez via pexels