The March general meeting of AFA was held at Cobargo Hotel on 30 March 2025

The following is a summary of the main points discussed. 

• The Membership drive is “looking good”. A further 15 members have been added to the list.
• There was an update on the imposed fine on SOS (Save Our Summits) President Marc Hendricks for illegal access. Marc was found by a Tweed River magistrate to have acted illegally by merely visiting Mt. Warning National Park.  No penalty was applied, however.
• 27,000 people signed the petition sponsored by Honorable Peter Ruddick, NSW Legislative Assembly. This was regarding the denial of access to our bush should the Aboriginal Management model go ahead. The online petition provided by NSW ACT 4 Wheel Drive Association was made available for AFA members.
• AFA website and Facebook are running well. Members are encouraged to provide more updates to keep the page more visible so it will keep coming up on Facebook feeds. Peter Kneen and Wanda Egan will continue to “fine tune” website and Facebook pages and AFA members contributions are also welcome.
• A timely reminder that an election is looming, and all AFA members should be lobbying their local members about what their position with the proposed Aboriginal ownership of our NP’s and the management and accountability of the NPWS. An example of this model and the mismanagement of NPWS includes the recent upheaval for tourist operators who have been denied access to Kakadu, the transfer of Goat Island to an Aboriginal corporation and The Grampians NP Director General’s resignation because of the way NPWS is managed.
• Aboriginal ownership means that 10% of NSW will be handed over if this model (Aboriginal Joint Management Model) is accepted by NSW government. The model has passed Stage 1 and Stage 2 is now in progress.  Only at Stage 3 does it go out for public comment. However, this is a token gesture and there will be no way to stop this model at this stage.
• There have been delays in securing our usual bi-annual meeting with National Parks. However, our chairman continues to contact our regional manager to secure a date.

TRACK REPORTS

2.1 Wog/Wog/Gilbert Track – Reg Webb advised NPWS “do not have time or funds” to go with Reg to identify and mark this track.  NPWS have now requested after 7 years of Reg liaising with multiple NPWS rangers about the track, that he now present the NPWS with a plan as to why this track should be officially identified and documented as a heritage track. NPWS also requesting photos which are to include before and after fires and a report forwarded to Helen Hayward.

2.2 Corn Track – Nothing to report at this meeting

2.3 Woila Creek/Tarlinton Track – Garry Gowen advised contract work on this track is almost completed, but will not be completed by contract work until funds are available from NPWS. Michael O’Brien advised a volunteer group has started from coast end.  Members at meeting consensus was that both ends of track are not far from meeting each other, both teams to figure out where each team is!

2.4 Bendethera – Terry Hart advised Bendethera regrowth remains an issue “cannot open your pocketknife” in some areas. Terry also advised Alpine to Bendethera track clearing has commenced and will be reopened eventually. 

2.5 Shoebridge Track – Jillian Atkinson advised of large tree over this track, difficult to pass because of steep terrain.

• ATHRA Family/friends camping weekend AFA membership drive (30 Nov 1st and 2^nd Dec 2024) was postponed because of inclement weather. There was discussion that the Davidge Memorial Ride (1^st & 2^nd November 2025) may be an option for participation by AFA members and another AFA membership drive.
• The Certificate of Appreciation for John and Jeanette Hindmarsh, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to AFA, was presented to both of them in their home.
• Members are urged to review the following links proposing the takeover of state forests and the creation of new National Parks.

The Great Southern Forest National Park on the South Coast proposal by The Greens this election.  This committee is based in Cobargo. See the Announcement by The Greens 30/1/2025 

For members on the North Coast - The Great Koala National Park 

The next meeting will be combined with our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING to be held on Sunday 10^th August 2025 at Steampacket Hotel, Nelligen.