Comments on: Sapling Pocket

By: Andrea schnookem Belford

Andrea schnookem Belford — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 07:59:34 +0000

Dearest Local resident.. I am so very sorry to hear about all the damage and recklessness to the environment.. On another web page I saw just before Christmas I saw a Kayak/ canoe trail goes thru the sapling reserve and suggests that picnicking and using the reserve as a rest stop was available . I am very glad I went to have a look before.. We set off from Burtons bridge with our families … Thinking this was a rest stop…Clarification may be needed…

By: Local Resident

Local Resident — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 00:56:37 +0000

We are property owner next to Sapling Pocket. Our family have been in Pine Mountain sine 1862. Sapling Pocket was our swimming hole. The council allowed gravel extraction from Sapling Pocket which totally destroyed the area. There was no requirement on the extraction company for a regeneration process of the area at the end of their lease. The rate payers of Ipswich have had to foot the bill. We do not want 4WD in the area. There are two gates on McMullens Road because of the idiots coming out from Ipswich and hooning in their cars and leaving behind their rubbish. We have also had cars set on fire in McMullens Road. Local residents were locked out of the area because of the damage to equipment etc by the hoons.
We also are concerned about people camping in the area and lighting fires as our property is in the Fire Risk Area.
The historic building photographed on the web site is not original it was moved there!!!!
The Bog Hole was a permanent waterhole where the original settlers did their washing
There have been small dams built on Watercress Creek and clearing of the creek banks and nothing seems to be done to stop these activities. It has changed the flow of Watercress Creek and the filling of the natural waterholes further down the creek where there were platypuses.

By: NeilEnnis

NeilEnnis — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 22:16:33 +0000

In reply to Michael Bischa.

G’day Michael
From what I’ve seen the ICC seems to be handling that balancing act quite well. They have a plan for Sapling Pocket which will eventually allow public access, 4WD access, camping, etc. The main issue at the moment is rehabilitating the site to let some of the native vegetation to recover. If you needed 4WD support access near Sapling Pocket at the moment I think the landowner to the North-West would be easy to talk to. Plus there’s the a road reserve (Shelley Road) near Lake Manchester which allows direct access to the river bank opposite the eastern section of Sapling pocket.
Thanks for your comments.
Neil

By: Michael Bischa

Michael Bischa — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 01:53:42 +0000

It is always a a balancing act between closing these places to all for conservation and letting responsible people access these areas without the need for jumping through hoops.
The access to the river by canoes is important as this is the best canoeing area close to Brisbane for training people to canoe. Access by support vehicles can assist in these activities.
Obviously open access leads to misuse by a very small number of people that make their presence all to visible.

By: NeilEnnis

NeilEnnis — Mon, 09 May 2016 21:41:59 +0000

In reply to JAY.

G’day Jay
Thanks for the comments, and thanks for being one of the “good guys” who leaves a place better than where they found it.
You’re lucky to live in such a pretty part of the world.
Neil