The dirt track ahead narrows as it winds between towering eucalyptus trees, their trunks still blackened from bushfires that tore through this part of the Blue Mountains three summers ago. My Toyota LandCruiser’s tires crunch over scattered gravel as I carefully navigate around a washout that wasn’t here during my last visit six months ago. A crimson rosella darts across the track ahead, a flash of color against the muted bush palette.
“This could all be closed to us soon,” says Ben Mitchell, my guide for the day and a third-generation 4WD enthusiast. “This track, dozens like it – all potentially off-limits if certain groups get their way.”
Ben’s concerns reflect a growing tension in New South Wales regarding access to public lands for recreational four-wheel driving. A petition calling for continued 4WD access to NSW public lands has been gaining significant traction, with thousands of signatures already collected and more coming in daily. The passionate response highlights the deep divisions between recreational drivers, environmental groups, and government agencies over how these spaces should be managed and who should have access to them.
The Petition: A Call to Action
The petition, started by the NSW 4WD Association in conjunction with several regional 4WD clubs, calls on the state government to “protect and preserve reasonable four-wheel drive access to public lands throughout New South Wales.” It specifically mentions recent track closures in state forests and national parks that have reduced access for recreational drivers.
“This isn’t about demanding to drive anywhere and everywhere,” explains Sarah Connors, president of the Central Coast 4WD Club, whom I meet at a popular trailhead near Lithgow. “It’s about maintaining reasonable access to areas that four-wheel drivers have historically been able to enjoy, and ensuring decisions about access are made transparently with input from all stakeholders.”
The petition has struck a chord with many in the 4WD community. As of last week, it had gathered over 12,000 signatures, with supporters citing concerns about gradually shrinking access to public lands, inadequate consultation processes, and what they see as undue influence from environmental groups without sufficient consideration of recreational users’ interests.
Standing at a lookout point after two hours of careful driving, Ben points out across a valley where several trails are visible snaking through the landscape. “Three of those tracks have been closed in the past year alone,” he notes. “One was damaged by flooding, which I understand, but the others were closed with minimal notice and no clear explanation about whether they’ll ever reopen.”
The Government Position: Balancing Competing Priorities
Representatives from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Forestry Corporation of NSW – the two main government bodies responsible for managing these public lands – emphasize that their decisions about access are based on multiple considerations including environmental protection, safety, maintenance costs, and cultural heritage.
“We have a statutory obligation to protect the natural and cultural values of the parks we manage,” explains David Turner, an NPWS regional manager I interviewed at his office in Katoomba. “That sometimes means restricting vehicle access to certain areas, especially when tracks are damaged, when there are sensitive ecological communities present, or when there are Aboriginal cultural sites that need protection.”
Turner is quick to point out that the vast majority of tracks in national parks remain open to 4WDs, though many require high-clearance vehicles and advanced driving skills. “Of the approximately 2,100 kilometers of unsealed roads in Blue Mountains National Park alone, only about 8% are closed to public vehicles,” he says. “And many of those closures are temporary, related to fire damage, flooding, or ongoing maintenance.”
Forestry Corporation takes a somewhat different approach, reflecting its dual mandate of environmental management and facilitating commercial and recreational use of state forests.
“State forests are working forests, managed for multiple uses including timber production, recreation, and conservation,” says Helena Fraser, a Forestry Corporation recreation planner based in Bathurst. “We generally maintain more extensive vehicle access than national parks, but we still need to manage that access sustainably.”
Fraser acknowledges that track closures have increased in recent years but attributes this primarily to extreme weather events. “The black summer bushfires of 2019-2020, followed by several years of heavy rainfall and flooding, have damaged many roads and tracks beyond what our maintenance budgets can quickly address,” she explains. “Safety has to be our first priority.”
The Environmental Perspective: Concerns About Impact
Environmental groups have a different view of the situation. Organizations like the National Parks Association of NSW and the Nature Conservation Council argue that 4WD access should be more tightly restricted in ecologically sensitive areas.
“Four-wheel drives, particularly when they go off-track or use areas during wet conditions, can cause significant environmental damage,” argues Dr. Eleanor Phillips, a conservation biologist with the Australian Conservation Foundation, whom I meet for coffee in Sydney. “This includes soil compaction, erosion, spread of dieback disease and weeds, disturbance to wildlife, and damage to vegetation.”
Phillips shows me photographs on her tablet of rutted tracks where erosion has carved deep channels, allowing sediment to wash into nearby streams. “Once this kind of damage occurs, it can take decades for the ecosystem to recover, if it ever does,” she says. “And the maintenance required to prevent these impacts is expensive – money that could be used for other conservation priorities.”
Environmental groups aren’t calling for a complete ban on 4WD access, Phillips stresses, but rather for a more strategic approach that concentrates vehicle use on properly constructed and maintained roads while protecting more sensitive areas.
“There needs to be a network of designated 4WD routes that are sustainably managed,” she suggests. “But that network should be designed based on ecological values and impacts, not just historical use or recreational demand.”
The 4WD Community’s Response: Fighting for Access
The 4WD community bristles at what many see as characterization of their hobby as environmentally destructive. They point to the strong ethic of responsibility promoted by established 4WD clubs and the significant volunteer work many clubs undertake to maintain tracks and clean up public lands.
“Most of us are out here because we love nature and want to experience these beautiful places,” says Lauren Simmons, a member of the Blue Mountains 4WD Club whom I join for a weekend club trip. “We have no interest in damaging the environment we come to enjoy.”
As we stop for lunch at a scenic spot beside a creek, Lauren points out the care the group takes: staying on established tracks, carrying out all waste, checking vehicles for leaks before trips, and using recovery techniques that minimize ground disturbance when vehicles get stuck.
“Our club does at least six track maintenance weekends a year,” she adds, showing me photos on her phone of club members clearing fallen trees, repairing water bars, and collecting trash left by others. “We probably put in more volunteer hours maintaining these tracks than the government does.”
Many in the 4WD community believe they’re being unfairly targeted while the environmental impact of other recreational users, such as mountain bikers, horse riders, and hikers, receives less scrutiny. They also point to commercial activities like logging in state forests, which they argue cause far more significant environmental disturbance than recreational driving.
“There’s a double standard at work,” claims Ray Donovan, vice president of the NSW 4WD Association, when I call him to discuss the petition. “Forestry can build major roads and clear fell areas for timber harvesting, but somehow our vehicles are painted as the major threat to forest ecosystems? It doesn’t add up.”
The Economic Angle: Regional Communities and Tourism
Beyond the recreational and environmental considerations, there’s a significant economic dimension to the 4WD access debate. Many regional towns and businesses depend heavily on visitors drawn to the area for four-wheel driving adventures.
In Lithgow, I meet with Jenny Hawkins, who runs a cafe and general store that sees a steady stream of 4WD enthusiasts stopping for supplies before heading into the surrounding forests and national parks.
“These folks are the lifeblood of our business, especially on weekends,” she tells me, restocking shelves between serving customers. “If more tracks get closed, we’ll feel it immediately in our bottom line. It’s not just us – it’s the service stations, the auto parts shops, the bakeries, the pubs – the whole town benefits from this tourism.”
Regional tourism bodies have taken note of the economic impact of 4WD tourism. A 2022 study commissioned by Destination NSW estimated that recreational four-wheel drivers contributed over $380 million annually to regional economies across the state, supporting thousands of jobs in areas with limited other economic opportunities.
“The 4WD market is incredibly valuable because these travelers typically stay longer and spend more than average tourists,” explains Michael Rodriguez from the Regional Tourism Organization for Central NSW. “They need accommodations, they eat at local restaurants, they buy fuel and supplies locally, and they often require mechanical services or recovery equipment.”
Rodriguez worries that continued track closures could push these valuable tourists to other states with more accessible 4WD opportunities, such as Victoria or Queensland. “Once you lose these visitors, it’s very hard to get them back,” he says.
Finding Middle Ground: Sustainable Access Models
Despite the seemingly entrenched positions, there are models of cooperation that suggest a more balanced approach is possible.
One example is the Stockton Beach 4WD access system in Port Stephens, where drivers must purchase permits, follow specific rules about driving techniques and prohibited areas, and stay within designated access corridors across the dunes. The system has successfully balanced recreational access with protection of the beach environment and Aboriginal cultural sites.
Similar approaches have been implemented in parts of Victoria, where the “Iconic 4WD Adventures” program designates and maintains specific routes that showcase spectacular scenery while managing environmental impacts and providing clear information to drivers about track conditions and required vehicle capabilities.
“We need more of these collaborative approaches,” suggests Dr. Mark Stevenson, an environmental management consultant who has worked with both government agencies and 4WD groups. “The current adversarial dynamic doesn’t serve anyone well.”
Over a campfire on my final night in the field, I discuss these possibilities with a group of 4WD enthusiasts who have been exploring these areas for decades.
“Most of us would be happy with a system that provides clarity and certainty,” says Greg Thompson, spooning damper dough into his camp oven. “Tell us which tracks we can use, what conditions or restrictions apply, and give us a way to contribute to maintenance. What’s frustrating is the seemingly arbitrary closures with no consultation and no clear process for reassessment or reopening.”
Another camper, Maria Kostopoulos, nods in agreement. “I’d rather pay a reasonable access fee that goes directly to track maintenance than see more areas closed completely,” she says. “Many of us would also volunteer our time and equipment to help keep these tracks in good condition.”
The Way Forward: Voices from All Sides
As the petition continues to gather signatures, various stakeholders are calling for a more structured dialogue about the future of 4WD access in NSW.
The NSW 4WD Association is pushing for the establishment of a formal advisory body that would include representatives from 4WD clubs, environmental organizations, tourism bodies, and relevant government agencies. This group would develop a statewide strategy for sustainable 4WD access and provide input on decisions about track openings and closures.
“We need to move beyond the current ad hoc approach,” says Donovan from the Association. “A strategic framework would provide more certainty for everyone while ensuring that environmental and cultural values are protected.”
Environmental groups, while cautious about any approach that might expand vehicle access, acknowledge that better engagement with the 4WD community could have benefits.
“When 4WD clubs are actively involved in track management, we often see better compliance with rules and less environmental damage,” concedes Phillips from the Australian Conservation Foundation. “The key is ensuring that access decisions are made with ecological values as a primary consideration, not just recreational demands.”
Government agencies, caught in the middle of these competing interests, are increasingly looking for ways to improve their consultation processes and provide more transparency around access decisions.
“We recognize we could do better at communicating the reasons behind track closures and providing clearer information about alternative routes,” acknowledges Turner from NPWS. “We’re working on improved mapping resources and more consistent signage to help visitors understand what areas are accessible with what types of vehicles.”
An Ongoing Conversation
As my week in the field draws to a close, I make one final stop at a popular lookout that overlooks a vast expanse of forested valleys. A group of 4WD vehicles is parked nearby, their owners gathered around a map spread across a bonnet, planning their route for the day.
I strike up a conversation with them, explaining my interest in the access petition. Their responses reflect the diversity of views within the 4WD community itself.
“I’ve signed it because I’m worried about the direction things are heading,” says one older man, who tells me he’s been four-wheel driving in these areas since the 1970s. “Every year there seem to be fewer places we can go.”
A younger woman in the group offers a different perspective. “I support maintaining access, but I also want my kids to be able to enjoy these places when they’re older,” she says. “That means we need to be responsible and accept some limitations on where we can go and when.”
What’s clear from my conversations with dozens of stakeholders is that this issue defies simple solutions. The petition has succeeded in highlighting the concerns of the 4WD community, but translating that awareness into constructive policy changes will require sustained dialogue and compromise from all sides.
As I head back toward Sydney on sealed roads, leaving the rugged tracks behind, I reflect on the fundamental question at the heart of this debate: how do we balance the legitimate desire for recreational access to public lands with the equally important need to protect these areas for future generations?
The petition may not resolve this tension, but it has certainly brought it into sharper focus. And perhaps that’s the first step toward finding a path that preserves both access and the environments that make these journeys worthwhile in the first place.
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