Natural Environment

• Australian Fauna
• Principles of Leave No Trace
• Nature Escapes

Protect the environment you love so much.

Western Australia is a beautiful state that boasts great natural features; but our environment is a precious thing that we must protect.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimise Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Your Hosts and Other Visitors

• Reduce your rubbish at the source
• When packing for your trip, repackage food into reusable, washable containers.
• Don’t bury rubbish. It disturbs the soil and is likely to be dug up by animals and scattered by birds and the wind.
• If fires are permitted, you may burn combustible material but remember to carry any foil or leftovers out.
• On long desert trips, wash any plastic bags, bottles, cans or wrappers in your left over dishwashing waster and rinse lightly. If you store back in your car fridge or ice chest this will keep them away from flies and other pests.
• Reduce your waste into small packages and carry a sealable rubbish bag in which to place non combustible items.
• Remember the three C’s – clean, crush and carry. Tins can be treated this way. Take both ends off the tin lids, wash out and put inside. Crush aluminium cans.
• When travelling long distances it is recommended that when you reach a major destination you don’t leave all of your rubbish in a rest area bin or beside the bin if it is full. Not only is this unsightly and encourages others to do the same, but they are not always able to be emptied very frequently; so the rubbish may not be collected for some time and can be scattered by animals and birds. Take your rubbish into a regional town or city where it can be disposed of properly and where ever possible take it home with you.
• Leave your campsite better than you found it or as if you were never there. Lead others by your example.

• Plan well in advance and do it thoroughly, using the information in our website and everything else you can find. Thirty days in advance is not too early. Make sure other people have copies of your itineraries. Ensure that if they do not hear from you when you plan to complete a stage that they notify the authorities.
• Prepare your provisions checklist: food, a comprehensive first aid kit, water fuel etc
• Check weather forecasts for your destination. Then plan your clothing, equipment, and supplies accordingly.
• Consider the skills level of each of your trip participants and the difficulty of the tracks you have chosen. Consider doing an accredited driving training course for all participants before entering difficult areas.
• Be aware of sensitive areas and the wildlife species in the areas you are visiting; avoid disturbing them. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.
• Keep your vehicle well maintained and tuned. Excessive emissions and fuel leaks are expensive problems and pollute the environment.
• Save money, fuel, and wear and tear on your vehicle by going easy on the throttle.
• Be considerate of others on the road, track or camping in the area. Honour their desire for solitude and a peaceful outdoor experience.
• Wetlands, saltpans, waterholes, marshes, and soaks need careful consideration. These are home to wildlife and stock. Camping too near to them could disturb their habitat. Please do not use their water as your washing machine.
• Drive only where permitted. Stay on the roads and tracks.
• Be prepared for emergencies. carry an approved emergency radio and be part of the VKS-737 National Radio Network
• Do not travel alone, pack emergency kits, and stick with your plan.
• Ensure you have permission from private property owners, land management agencies, and permits to travel your intended route.
• Carry maps, books, brochures, and as much information as you can to all areas you intend to travel. If possible carry a GPS unit. Do your research, read up as much as you can before you go, and use websites like DriveWA.com to plan your escape.
• Do all you can to protect the public and private lands that mean so much to us all. Your efforts now will ensure the longevity of the “outback” in the future.

Track Care WA

Track Care is another great organisation working to protect the environment. Track Care aim to promote the responsible use of 4WD tracks in Western Australia, and to preserve the environment.

Track Care works to maintain these tracks for future use - so it is up to us to use them responsibly. Track Care also provides some information relating to track closures.

For more information or to join Track Care please email info@trackcare.com.au or visit www.trackcare.com.au.