Highways through national parks will allow for faster access to prime shooting fields of fire. Higher road-kill speeds necessitate more dazzle for self-defence against oncoming incoming street missiles.

Paul and Toni,

Now that we are talking about the same thing, per the link, I must say that I agree entirely with you both.

I had the harrowing experience of seeing motorbikes heading towards people sunbathing on Middle Head Beach, I was on the headland at the northern end of the beach having gone for a bit of a walk.

There was absolutely nothing that I could do, being well out of voice range, but I yelled anyway, the two bikes were heading straight for the people who were lying in a depression to keep out of the breeze, fortunately, the bikes jumped the depression although one back wheel came down within a foot or so of one person (I saw the impact later).
The bike riders seemed completely unaware of what they had nearly done and continued to the end of the beach then headed over the frontal dune and back to the road.

I have no objection to fishermen being able to drive on the beach as they are not interested in driving on the soft sand and would generally keep to the tidal areas and consequently do no damage, but the beaches are no place for driving just for the fun of it.

Same for the forests, all motor vehicles do damage when off road; I do a lot of hunting and it's all on foot except for a few places where we go on horseback.

ise mise we agree will never understand why some think driving far too fast is a must, no driver ever has the right to put anyone in danger beach fisherman myself it is lower gear and stay away from people at all times for me
In the bush same but always, every second, expect an idiot on the wrong side of the road at any time, no off track stuff for me

Belly,

The following incident, although it happened on a public road, illustrates only too well what can happen on tracks.

A group of local lads were out on their motorcycles on the Old Grafton Road, which isn't used much; one went for a spin along a very winding section and as he had been gone for a long time, one of his mates went looking for him, unfortunately, they had a head-on collision and both were killed.

It was presumed that one of them was cutting a corner when they collided.

Know it well Ise Mise both via my best in the world fishing trips to Evans head and my work took me to Casino and Grafton every few weeks, we have the old highway, and the still killing Bulahdelah Mountain road
Yesterday met the usual, about twenty bikers out to test their luck
Too many on the wrong side of the road

Belly,

This is well off topic, but!!

I know Evans Head very well, having lived there for six months on a boat building job.

Great fishing spot and I well remember one afternoon when one of the local boats was returning up river, one of the crew (in scuba gear) went over the off side and attached a nice (about 12 inch) red snapper to one of the breakwater fishermen's lines.

When he hauled it in the word spread like wildfire and soon there was hardly room for another line along the breakwater/retaining wall.
Needless to say, the joke was kept very private for a few weeks.