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$11,000 fine for building a cairn 14-Jun-2011 At 10:27:02 AM climberman

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kuu and superstu I think are bang on the money.

I have met the rangers who cover that area through involvement with major construction in the area. They are people who work with SFA funding, protecting a large area, with a range of statutory obligations they are charged with undertaking. Funnily enough in a National Park protecting known threatened species and their known habitat is pretty high up the list of things they're asked to do. I've found them to be pretty pragmatic but dealing with climbers' antics can be difficult as there's hardly a typical peak body like many other sports. They probably didn't want to make a big deal of it but thought that spending $2000 to put up a sign might be an easy way to do it. While broad-headed snakes have a reasonable distribution for a threatened species, they have a very narrow range of preferred habitat within that distribution.

superstu's last suggestion is a great one - why not show we actually give a fcuk ? How hard is it to help a critter - it's a critter which specifically inhabits areas we also enjoy. I'd have thought there'd be some affinity with it. The 'need' for cairns is pretty low, even if they do make things handy sometimes.

Neil, being from vicco you guys may not be aware that in NSW walkers have traditionally had a pro vs anti cairn long term argument goping (think of it like boots vs volleys, ie not life and death, but people hold some strongish views on the matter).

Technically the fine and imprisonment is a max penalty (ie, wilful, purposful, with intent, etc). That said..... you've now been formally warned by a sign.