The crew have taken on an area adoption of Wilbinga, both UCL and Reserve areas are looked after in a voluntary capacity.
Wilbinga Spring
Clean-up 2011 event report.
Sunday the 18th of September 2011.
Pre-planning for this event went to schedule with the use of
the Shacks Crew new website at
www.wilbingashackscrew.com.au.
The department of environment and conservation was notified
of the clean-up event as was the Gin Gin Shire weeks before the event with park
and visitors manager Shawn Debono arranging John Wheeler (Yanchep NP ranger) to
source the DEC BBQ trailer and make it available, also supplying enough food
for all volunteers to be fed at lunchtime. John worked diligently making sure
we were all well fed and watered. Thanks John.
The WA 4wd Association was also notified so that the 4wd clubs
would be notified in an effort for all the 4wd clubs to support this clean-up
effort.
To the lead up of this event, not a lot of interest was
shown, but a few days before the event volunteers were coming out of the
woodwork and being that the morning of the 18th a huge storm was
passing through the Metropolitan area and to the South and North of Perth it
was amazing that hardly anyone pulled out. It was pouring with rain and winds
were reported to be at 70kph in some coastal areas.
There were to be three check points to start everyone off
from to prevent any congestion on Wanneroo Road at the first and second check
points being that no one really new how many volunteers were to turn up on the
day.
The plan was simple in that DEC205 and DEC207 forms would be
dropped off to the Shacks Crew at Wilbinga Rd. Because of the stormy conditions
the shacks crew were late due in arriving, they had to batten down the shacks
from the storm.
The Western Patrol Club turned up first with 5 vehicles and
trailers and was the first mob to head in to make a start. Followed up by
representatives of the Land Cruiser Owners Club, Land Rover Owners and the WA
4wd Association, and of course Track Care WA Inc.
Many other clubs turning up as well such as All Track 4wd
Club, Mitsubishi 4wd Owners Club… full list of supporters on the day can be
seen from this link…
http://www.wilbingashackscrew.com.au/index.php/links
There was a lot of rubbish dragged out of the area on the
day, at least three times as much as was taken out six months earlier on the
first effort.
What is required now is encouraging recreational outdoor
enthusiast to do the right thing and take out what they take in and it’s not
hard to do this. If this thought process and attitude change on dumping rubbish
can be achieved, then we can concentrate on other areas that is in real need of
looking after as well – so we all have access for the future for years to come.
I’m happy to report that no incidences occurred considering
the appalling weather conditions, all volunteers made it home to loved ones
safe and sound.
Hopefully we can continue with a level of momentum with
other adoption opportunities in other DEC managed districts and regions,
especially those that cannot be supported for whatever reason given.
Many thanks to Shawn and his team for allowing this event to
see its course and achieve a great outcome. I drove out and did not see any
rubbish anywhere; it was really impressive how clean this area is now. Let’s
try and keep it this way now.
The Wilbinga 4x4 Shacks Crew have been in this area for the
last 50 years and are best placed to oversee this area by taking on an adoption,
if you travel through this area please be considerate of these guys as they are
doing what needs to be done for your access.
These guys are constantly recovering novice 4wdrivers heading
up the coast to maybe just go for a drive or to do a bit of fishing. Please do
the shacks crew a favour and be well prepared before coming into the Wilbinga
area. The first thing to do is let your tyres down, purchase a reliable
compressor from any of the reputable 4wd accessory shops and a tyre gauge, also
go and buy yourself a sand flag and use it.
Sandgroper and Wally of the Shacks Crew along with their
mates welcome recreational users into the area and ask that everyone respects
what they have achieved with the two clean-up exercses this year and to please, please just
take out what you take in, also please tread lightly in Wilbinga.
Also when travelling through the shacks area, please just
slow down and take it easy, there is a 5kph limit past the shacks now.
Take care everyone and with this Wilbinga effort, hopefully a few more adoption opportunities will come from this one and we can continue with the adoption program that will assist in our ‘access for the future’ in more areas than less.
Report by Geoff Couper on behalf of the Wilbinga 4x4 Shacks Crew.