Shipsterns Bluff Access.

[Mechanic-AL]

Apparently Red Bull have scheduled a surfing contest at Shipsterns Bluff as a part of their Big Wave World Tour. This event is set to run anytime between now and Christmas depending on when the surf cooperates. No problem there. I was surprised however to hear of their plans to close the Stormlea Road for the duration of the event. I couldn't imagine it would be in their best interests to have a whole gaggle of punters crowding the cliff tops in search of the best view of the waves.
I have an issue with their plans to close the road though. Not sure just who it is that has the supreme power to give them permission to do this ? What about the people who have no interest in surfing and just want to take a walk down the Cape and back? I'm also wondering if this event is a global success story and Red Bull decide to run it annually how does that sit with users of the 3 Capes Track ?

Buggered if I like the idea of being told by a multi national corporation that I can't walk somewhere in my home state.
( and that crap taste like cough medicine passed it's used date anyway ! ).

[ILUVSWTAS]

Buggered if I like the idea of being told by a multi national corporation that I can't walk somewhere in my home state

PWS have been doing it for years... do you have the same issue with them?

I don't think it has any impact on the 3capes as the start of that walk is at a different location is it not?

[north-north-west]

And what about the people who live down there?

They close off sections of road for the Targa, which is fair enough given the safety issues, but this is very different. Probably part of the problem is the limited parking facilities at and near the trackhead. They'll need everything they can get to bring in media and competitors and support staff, so there will be no room for the public.

Wonder if they will also try to close off water access. Not that I'd be keen on taking the kayak in if the surf is big enough for them . . .

[north-north-west]

Buggered if I like the idea of being told by a multi national corporation that I can't walk somewhere in my home state

PWS have been doing it for years... do you have the same issue with them?

Not as much as with FT and Hydro.
TasPAWS track closures and restrictions are generally about maintenance, safety (as with burn-offs) and capping numbers. It's different to a private company closing a public road to make $$$$.

[stepbystep]

They are paranoid people with fancy cameras will go and get the scoop and take it away from their control. Surfing much as most things is a corporate game. I’ll probably go down for a look when it’s on. There’s other ways in there

[tastrax]

Stormlea Road is council and private - nothing to do with PWS. Does anyone actually have any information that the road will be closed or is it just rumour?

[Mechanic-AL]

PWS close tracks around the state for a number of different reasons. Making bucket loads of cash for huge corporations isn't usually one of them.
Shipsterns has really been surfed regularly for the past 10 years or so. Walkers have been using those tracks for how long...........?
It's more the principal of a company having divine rights over an area they have previously held no interest in than anything else that gets to me.

[Mountain Rocket]

Redbull did exactly the same thing at Cape Solander aka 'Cape Fear' within Kamay Botany Bay National Park, NSW back in 2016. Restricting public access in National Parks for a commercial venture will always rub me the wrong way. However, I can at least appreciate there probably isn't enough room in the carpark for the public after all the competitors and support crew are there, but to just say members of the public cannot attend full stop is lame.

[Mechanic-AL]

So its on. Scheduled to start on Monday morning. ( 13/05 ). No mention of road or track closures on PAWS website but word from event organizers is that public access will be closed. At a time when we have the heavy pressure being applied to allow private developments in WHA's is it really a smart move to allow Global Corporations to shut down parts of our National Parks to use as their own little play pen ? No doubt this will be a spectacular sporting event but that isnt the issue.
What if somebody found a way to make fly fishing a life or death edge of your seat spectator sport? Would that suddenly give promoters the right to close public access to highland lakes while they held fly fishing contest ?? This really is at the heart of just who National Parks ( and WHA's ) are created for.........

[oldpiscator]

With the World Fly Fishing championships in November this year Little Pine Lagoon, Penstock Lagoon and Woods Lake will be closed to fishing for a week to non competitors and sections of the Mersey and Meander rivers will be closed for 2 weeks.

[Mechanic-AL]

I'm not sure about the sections of the Mersey and Meander to be closed but I'm fairly sure Penstock and Little Pine are not in National Parks.
I guess it would be up to the local council to make the call on closing these areas ?

[north-north-west]

"Closed to fishing" is not the same as "no public access".

[Rexyviney36]

I’m a pretty regular visitor to little Pine during the fishing season, and by visitor I mean, angler.
For the State to host such a fantastic event, I’m sure I can find other waters to fish for a week or two if needs be.
No different to MtB riders and Derby, and surfers and Shippies. In fact, most locals keen enough would go for a look, not throw frocks in protest.

[Joel]

I don't know about "a fantastic event". I don't want to sound negative but I don't think anyone really cares about fly fishing competitions. I'm a super keen fly fisher and I don't know anyone that is interested in the event except those that like to compete themselves.

[Mechanic-AL]

In fact, most locals keen enough would go for a look, not throw frocks in protest.

And how would they do this when public access is closed ?

The point I'm trying to discuss is weather we should expect to see more areas of National Parks closed to private events organized large corporations into the future and if other park stakeholders are comfortable with this ?
I personally believe that this is 'thin edge of the wedge ' type stuff that will eventually give license to some of the more completely unacceptable development proposals that are on the table at the moment.
Its been a long time since of thrown anything other than a hammy and if I happened to have any pretty frocks I wouldnt be getting them dirty over closing the Shippies track
Just interested to know if many folks worry about this type of activity in National Parks and WHA ( because I get the feeling we're about to see a significant increase .... ).

[Nuts]

Just interested to know if many folks worry about this type of activity in National Parks and WHA ( because I get the feeling we're about to see a significant increase .... ).

Yes, blurred lines on public assets and management boundaries. Only supported ingress or unsupported, one or the other!
Not one inch and not for a minute, to me. Far from saturated but getting there.