Maybe the final word on Harpeng Road

[Member]

How about a directional sign and warning at the 2 closest public access points at shines and harpeng ?

That is surely fiesable ....

It SHOULD NOT take a person loosing their life for action to be taken.

[Member]

Guys, posting it here won't make it happen.  To be honest I've been fighting this for too long and I'm over it.  It really isn't worth the end of friendships with people in authority that I've been bitching to.  If you want this to happen start writing to the people who can do something.

[Member]

I may be missing something here, but according to the cadastral map (map pdf) the Brisbane River is shown as proceeding past the end of Harpeng Road and follows the 'flood plain' and acts as the boundary between 2 parishes.

That to my mind defines the river course and the landholder can only fence down to a point that mirrors where the water would be if the annabranch was not there, from there on the situation should be as if there were a submerged causeway or crossing point between the 2 banks. The length of the 2 fences shown in (visual map pdf) reflect that view as they do not extend across the 'flood plain' according to the government (who rightly know they cannot deny access to the river between the 'high bank' as has been the rule for aeons.
DOES ANYONE ACTUALLY HAVE THE LAW ON THIS IN WRITING???

Also shown on Topo maps, and even google maps is the road reseve that continues on from Harpeng Rd across the flood plain, turns north on the high point and crosses to meet another road reserve on the Lowood side of the annabranch mouth. I have always known the spot as Cameron's Crossing.

HOWEVER the government seems to have made an exception to the rule and is allowing this landholder to resume a public waterway AND crown reserve (roadway) for his own use, as well as causing considerable risk to users of a public waterway by forcing them to seek a more dangerous route.

Does anyone know how the canoe cruisers and hire companies are approaching the log jam problem???

I remember as a young teenager doing a 1 week canoe trip down the river with the YMCA (that is 28years ago) We actually camped overnight on the gravel/sand in the 'flood plain'. There were NO fences across the river there back then and the cattle wandered across to the island between the flood plain and the island formed by the annabranch.

Brad

[Member]

So your saying you cant get your crayons out and put up a temporary sign on the fence ?

[Member]

What I'm saying, is why can't you do it if you want it so bad?  The fence belongs to the landholder I wouldn't be touching it, but that's just me.
Put quite simply, the current law is on his side.  If you want that to change you have to change the law, or the interpretation of law.  I've tried, and as I really don't fish the area myself much, I giving up.  As you can see, it's a thankless task fighting for something to benefit others who will just try to insult you while you are doing it.

[Member]

hmmmmm

Sooooo, if someone was to paddle down into the anabranch and just happen to get stuck, then rings 000 and then all of the TV crews immediately afterwards this might bring the issue to a head. especially if the tv crews had choppers in the air above filming the rescue crews ripping out those immoral fences?
would that do it?

[Member]

I'm not sure that it would be a clever thing to utilise our 000 service for a publicity stunt.  In fact, being honest, it would be bloody stupid and irresponsible.

[Member]

hmmmmm

Sooooo, if someone was to paddle down into the anabranch and just happen to get stuck, then rings 000 and then all of the TV crews immediately afterwards this might bring the issue to a head. especially if the tv crews had choppers in the air above filming the rescue crews ripping out those immoral fences?
would that do it?

Would most likely end with the gates being permanently locked and no more legal access.

[Member]

Would most likely end with the gates being permanently locked and no more legal access.

That won't stop people paddling down from further away, getting caught out. DNR should be in there with a chainsaw removing the dangerous log jam in the interest of PUBLIC SAFETY.

Years ago it used to get done by that chinese bloke  , anything above water level was trimmed back.....I guess the tree huggers and pacifists stopped him.

[Member]

http://www.upstreampaddle.com/lowood.html
The Common to Twin Bridges

(Edit by Dale)  The advice on that web page in not accurate or up to date.

[Member]

http://www.upstreampaddle.com/lowood.html
The Common to Twin Bridges

Thanks for that link. I have been intending to do a river trip with a friend on Dec 5, and your link has shown me that it is not a good idea to do that section. I will do Savages to Burtons instead. Neither of us are experienced in river paddles, and there are lots of good tips on that site.
If anyone cares to join us on Dec 5, they are more than welcome.
 

[Member]

http://www.upstreampaddle.com/lowood.html
The Common to Twin Bridges

The problem with the Interweb is there is nothing to keep it up to date.  That looks to have been written before the 2011 floods.
Do not follow the advice in that article.

[Member]

Bugger .... looks like we will very much need experienced company on the trip, or re-think it again.
Thanks for the tip.

[Member]

Twin Bridges to Savages is a pretty good starter trip.  There isn't any real difficulty getting through anything there.

[Member]

Yes I know the info is not current but anyone searching for info about the route gets that and similar.