Campers suffer for hoons

WELL-BEHAVED campers will pay the price for their anti-social counterparts with a number of informal camping sites included in bushland closed earlier this month by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Damage from hoon activity and risks to stream water quality from human waste in the Yarra State Forest near Reefton have prompted the department to order a temporary closure of the worst affected area.
The closure takes in part of Peninsula Road, Armstrong Creek Road and a pipeline easement track north of Fishermans Drive.
Wally Notman, the forest stewardship and biodiversity manager at the DSE’s Powelltown office, said the temporary closure was unfortunate but necessary.
“There is a long list of problems associated with public use of this particular area,” Mr Notman said. “It is disappointing that so many people lack respect for their natural environments.”
Reports of unlawful shooting and illegal access to Melbourne Water supply weirs, noisy behaviour near houses, human waste deposited next to Armstrong Creek, camp fires left alive, littering, and dumping of stolen cars are some of the problems the department has had to deal with.
“The grassy areas among the majestic eucalyptus trees are now just mud as a result of hoon activity,” Mr Notman said.
The 12-month closure will allow the DSE to consider how the area can be managed to encourage responsible use and Mr Notman would like to hear from community members on how this can be achieved.
“We apologise to the people who enjoy using this area in a responsible and respectful way,” Mr Notman said.
He said the closure was temporary and that the department was looking forward to working with the community to explore options that would enable future access while protecting the environment.
Mr Notman can be contacted at DSE Powelltown on 5965 9914.