One of the most rewarding pleasures in life is plunging into a beautiful stream or waterhole after hours, if not days, of tramping. Not any more, if “Dictator Dan” has his way.
Those walking off a trail, swimming in a waterway or conducting research in a park could face hefty fines under new rules.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews‘ new rules, which have been slammed as ‘nanny state’ by the opposition, would apply to more than 50 parks across the state.
These changes are broken down in the proposed Metropolitan and Regional Parks Regulations, as many of Victoria’s regulations will expire in March of next year.
Rules in metropolitan parks were deemed ‘outdated’ and regional parks were believed to be ‘unregulated for recreational use’.
God, it’s all so “Strength Through Joy” isn’t it? But then, that’s the way of totalitarians: they have to control every facet of the lives of their subjects, even their recreation.
Changes include a fine of up to $924 for walking off a park trail, which is set out by the land manager.
Victorians conducting ‘intrusive research’ at a park such as a scientific study, could be hit with a $1,472 fine.
Intrusive research is defined in the proposals as interfering ‘with wildlife, soil, rocks, vegetation or visitors or that contravenes any regulation applying to the park’.
Well, that’s as clear as mud. Which is another hallmark of authoritarians: rigid control combined with strategic ambiguity. The law is whatever the Dear Leader says it is. The comrades just have to guess what they’re allowed to do, in which case it’s always safest to do nothing at all.
Especially not jumping in a lake.
Those wanting to swim in a body of water at a park will require a permit unless that waterway has been clearly designated for swimming.
Rock climbers, abseilers, hanggliders and paragliders will also need to get a permit unless an area has been designated for it.
Crown land managers will determine what areas of a park are permitted for activities such as walking, swimming, or rock climbing.
We can already see where this is going. Rock climbers have already been banned from popular sites in the Grampians — sorry, the Gimmigimmidatdollas, or whatever they’re called now — lest they offend the Great Rainbow Bunyip. You can be assured that, with the full power of the Great Dictator behind them, pasty white “Indigenous Elders” from deepest, darkest inner-city Melbourne will be popping up to declare anywhere that “colonisers” might have fun to be a “sacred site”. That’s $100 a head in “Sorry Money”, from you.
A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio told The Australian the changes are being made to preserve the natural habitat and heritage of parks.
‘The regulations do not restrict any activities that are currently allowed and will only be used to restrict an activity if it is necessary to protect the environment, cultural heritage and safety,’ she said.
Daily Mail
They’re not stopping you from doing anything you’re currently allowed to do — unless they stop you from doing something you’re currently allowed to do.
Otherwise, the beatings will continue until morale improves.
