Initially, the lease fee that was negotiated was based on the number of vehicles that Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby Preservation Association were told went over the track by the owners of Willow Springs and it was based on around 500 vehicles per annum. Soon after the YFRWPA realised that they were told furphy’s because it was quite evident that there were many more vehicles going over. During the next lease period, the fee doubled as did the number of vehicles and then in their wisdom, the fee went up again when factual evidence proved that there were in excess of 1500 vehicles travelling over the Shytrek track per annum. This relates to $8 for every car going to the YFRWPA. So what happens to the other $67??
Willow Springs have opted not to renew the lease due to the price rise as is their prerogative. This means that Skytrek will change, but the track over Mt Caenarvon will remain and may close for a time, but chances are that it will re-open and be extended and improved to include other areas that weren’t accessible in the past.
The YFRWPA don’t want to see the track close or the Flinders Ranges loose any of their tourist attractions, but a fair price for the lease should be considered and they feel that an independent operator may be the answer. In the end, a drive over Mt Caenarvon may be cheaper and even more enjoyable to four wheel drivers than in the past.
As far as the YFRWPA being an offshoot of the Sporting Shooters Association, I can’t see the relevance. So what! Yes the YFRWPA was born from some members of the Hunting & Conservation Branch of SSAA, but is a totally separate and constituted organisation. Some people are still members of both organisations, but that doesn’t make the YFRWPA a sporting or shooting group. They are simply a conservation organisation and four wheel driving over the conservation reserve doesn’t necessarily constitute core business to them.
