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Abstract

Rapidly changing social patterns and increasing standards of living
have brought about pronounced changes in the way in which leisure and
recreation time is utilized. This, combined with rapid technological
innovation in vehicle capabilities and manouverability, has brought
about a dramatic increase in human use pressure on the natural
environment.
Despite the relatively short time in which the incidence of off-road
vehicle impacts have been monitored and documented, there already
exists a large body of literature (particularly North American)
detailing the adverse and long term impacts of unrestricted vehicle
use.
That problems involving off-road recreational vehicles in Tasmania
occur as regularly as they do suggests that Tasmanian land use
management is failing to ensure that recreation vehicles are strictly
controlled in confined areas or restricted to properly designed
trails.
The frustrations of the land manager are continually experienced by
the author himself, through personal experience in bushland management
with the Parks and Recreation Department, Hobart City Council.
Persons caught driving illegally off-road usually protest ignorance of
the relevant vehicular restrictions. All, however, indicate a common
problem by asking: "where can I, legally, go?" That dilemma the
author, as the owner of an endro motor-bike, has also experienced,
when seeking off-road opportunities. The plethora of Tasmanian legislation dealing with the management of
Crown land contains provisions for regulation and control of
recreation vehicles. Despite this, officers in the land management
field are still confronted with enforcement problems. Indications
elsewhere are that specific control measures must be implemented.
It is argued, drawing on lessons from the states of mainland Australia
(and elsewhere), that problems posed by off-road recreational vehicles
can be best ameliorated by the formulation of strict guidelines for
land administering authorities to follow in drawing up regulations for
application to recreational use of vehicles on public land. It is
also argued that Tasmania should introduce specific legislation,
possibly based on similar legislation elsewhere in Australia or
overseas (perhaps the USA in particular, where considerable planning
and legislation for off-road recreational vehicles has already been
effected).
A 'bundle' of strategies is suggested. Initially, a policy and
strategy with definite objectives must be formulated. Specific
legislation, while necessary, must be backed by determined enforcement
and prosecution. Just as important is the role of education in
changing community attitudes. Control provisions which foster the
latter objective require urgent implementation.

Item Type:	Thesis - Coursework Master
Authors/Creators:	Brown, Ross G(Ross Gordon)
Keywords:	All terrain vehicles, All terrain vehicles, Environmental law
Copyright Holders:	The Author
Copyright Information:	Copyright 1987 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s).
Additional Information:	Thesis (M. Env. St.)--University of Tasmania, 1988. Bibliography: p. 139-154
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