Outback Roads
10 May 1998: The Minister for Transport and Urban Planning (SA), Diana Laidlaw, has announced that penalties for using dirt roads that are declared `closed' due to heavy rain have been greatly increased.
Penalties have been increased from $100 to $1250 for a first offence, and to $2500 for a second or subsequent offence. The cost of repairing any damage can also be recovered by the courts. (Regrading damaged roads is reckoned at $160/km, rising to $500/km if rutted.)
The minister deplored the behaviour of the minority of motorists who have ingnored road-closed signs and damaged roads, causing risk and inconvience to other responsible motorists and expense to the community.
It is a common practice to close some unsealed roads in outback SA, WA and other states after bad weather to allow the roads to dry out.
More information: freecall 1300-361-033
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