This in my view was the biggest mistake. I imagine the cost of reopening the island’s inland tracks and removing the bulk of recreational traffic from the beach would be horrendous and challenging at many levels.

Improved training as I’ve already suggested and tag along tours are probable the only feasible options at this time. I only hope commonsense prevails and action is taken soon to improve safety on the island whilse maintaining the viability of our region’s tourist industry

We are all racist to some degree, but your comments on Ch9, certainly weren’t.
I also happen to think more needs to done to protect tourist from themselves
while driving on Fraser Island.

Personally I’d ban driving on the beach.

Sadman

I was also present, in June 2009, when backpackers were being shown a safety DVD, and not one was watching. When I asked the supervisor at the Backpackers if she was concerned, her reply was “We put the DVD on, that is our responsiblity, we cannot make them watch it.” And I am forced to share the beach with these drivers?

Add this evidence to the damming evidence that has come to light following the incident with Japanese backpackers, who are reported as stating they did not understand english, therefore did not understand the safety DVD.

Millions of dollars have been spent building fences to exclude dingoes from Eurong and Second Valley and the locals, people who had been involved in not one dingo incident, yet the roads continue to deteriorate; roads that continue to claim lives.

The dingoes lived in harmony with the people of Eurong and Second Valley, and before them the forestry workers, and before them the indigenous people yet since DERM have been managing the Island the Queensland Government has been attempting to rid the Island of dingoes by stealth in the guise of public safety. If they were serious about safety they would repair the roads, and ensure the competence of all drivers on the island.

Why does the Queensland Government continue to turn a blind eye to the deterriorating roads, and increased carnage on these roads, while at the same time beating up hysteria about the danger of dingoes. I have been feeding dingoes for nearly 40 years, and it has never caused aggression. There is NO SCIENCE to support the stand of DERM that feeding makes dingoes aggressive, yet they continue with this false claim.

In 2009, how many people were airlifted from the Island due to a road accident, and how many people were airlifted due to a dingo attack? Is there any correlation between these figures and the Government expenditure on these issues.

Why does the Government continue to remain so blind to these issues? How long before someone is injured through no fault of there own, but as a result of an incompetent driver, and sues the Queensland Government or the tour company responsible for leasing the vehicle.

I’m all for allowing visitors to explore the island in their own time but unless we start giving them some hands on experience whether real time or in a sophisticated driving simulator before they go to the island and not just a video, we will continue to have unnecessary injuries and perhaps deaths.

Improved driver training is not a silver bullet however it could provide the extra knowledge that allows our visitors to avoid getting into trouble.