4WD owners fined after abandoning their car and leaving a trail of destruction in the pristine wilderness – despite having a very obvious item that could have helped them escape
- Six 4WDs were stranded in Queensland
- Drivers of two were fined $1,400 each
- Path of destruction was left behind
Two 4WD owners have been fined $1,437 each after they got stuck in a protected and private wetland area before abandoning their car.
A group of 11 people, including two children, drove six cars into Pinnacles Reserve, near Townsville in northern Queensland, last month.
The group had entered the protected zone illegally and due to a recent downpour of 120mm of rain in the area, their cars all got stuck on the night of February 4.
Those in the cars had to wade through the rising waters in the dark before being rescued by a fast water team and a rescue helicopter the next morning.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science shared photos of the path of destruction left by the group.
A 4WD was photographed with drag marks on the roof that would have helped loosen the tires.
A group of 11 people, including two children, drove six cars into Pinnacles Reserve, near Townsville in northern Queensland, last month. After heavy rain, the cars got stuck. A 4WD had drag marks on the roof
The group had driven down a private road, ignoring a warning sign that only authorized personnel were allowed into the area.
“They later recovered their vehicles, but they left behind trash and a lot of damage to the environment and firebreak, which will cost about $50,000 to repair,” Senior Conservation Officer Craig Dunk said.
While two drivers were slapped with hefty fines, the owners of the remaining four cars escaped with a formal warning after speaking to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services to explain what had happened.
QPWS said all drivers expressed regret for the damage they had caused, while the vehicles, some of them stuck to the car’s axles, were stuck in the area for weeks afterwards.
The group had entered the protected area illegally and due to a recent downpour of 120mm of rain in the area, their cars all got stuck on the night of February 4.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science shared photos of the path of destruction left by the group
Mr Dunk said the 4WDs had flattened and ripped away vegetation from the area, leaving holes as deep as two feet.
“When vehicles break the surface of the soil in this area, the soil can essentially dissolve and erode very quickly during rains,” he said.
‘Without remediation, those barren areas are susceptible to weed growth and persistent erosion problems, and it can take months for the natural vegetation to regrow.
“The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service makes no apologies for imposing fines on people who cause damage to our protected areas.”
A pack of Bundaberg rum and coke was also left behind.
The private road on which the cars entered the area is critical for firefighters.
The cars were left in the area as the cars inside waded through the floodwaters
The cars were stuck in the area for weeks afterwards
Pictured is the trail of destruction left behind by the 4WDs