Travelling the West

A few handy hints for the traveller heading West!

Of the utmost importance before departing for Western Queensland is to have your vehicle & trailer in sound mechanical condition. Two spare tyres should be carried as well as a good set of tools, tyre repair kit, tyre pump, a selection of essential spare parts, an extra jack, engine oil, extra petrol, plastic syphon tubing, tow rope and axe, a pick and a shovel.

Good quality first-aid equipment and reserve supplies of food and water should always be included.

There have been major road improvements made during the last five years. Many of the roads are bitumen (made) and most of the gravel roads are suitable for conventional vehicle. Changes in the weather do affect the road conditions and it is advisable to check with local Visitor Centres or police before embarking on your journey.

Advise your itinerary:

Before setting out into remote areas, it is advisible to contact the RACQ or local Police or other reliable persons of your intended destination and your expected times of arrival and return.

If you are overdue on your journey, a search party will then know where to start looking.

If you become lost or stranded, stay with your vehicle and conserve food and water.

A vehicle is much easier to locate than a person wandering in the open.

Do not remove clothing because of the heat as this will cause dehydration.

Bush manners

Take care when traversing a property (after obtaining the owners permission) to create a minimum disturbance to fauna and flora.

Avoid grazing stock; ensure gates are left open or closed as you find them; do not damage fences, bores, tanks, sheds or other installations and equipment.

Some land owners object to the shooting of wild game on their properties and this should be respected.

Camp fires must be totally extinguished after use.

Fossicking and Mining leases

It should be noted that laws of trespass apply to mining leases and claims. Permission of the lessee or claim holder is required before entering these areas.

Always take care when fossicking on dumps near old workings as it is possible to lose one's footings on the unconsolidated dump material. Tumbling into an old shaft could result in a very serious, if not fatal, accident.

Entering old underground workings is a hazardous exercise.

Unstable ground, bad air, snakes and spiders are a few of the dangers which may befall the unwary fossicker. When working any undergroud mine, one should never be alone, but have the aid of a companion on the surface who can go for help in the event of an accident.