Pinnacle Reserve 4WD owners fined $1,400 for unlawfully bogging cars in Queensland wetland

Two 4WD owners have been fined $1,437 each after they became bogged in a protected and private wetland area before abandoning their cars.

A group of 11, including two children, had been driving in six cars in Pinnacles Reserve, near Townsville in north Queensland last month.

The group had illegally entered the protected zone and due to a recent 120mm dumping of rain in the area, their cars all became stuck on the night of February 4.

Those inside the cars were forced to wade through rising floodwaters in the dark before they were rescued by a swift water team and rescue helicopter the following morning.

The Queensland Department of Environment and Science shared photos of the path of destruction left behind from the group.

One 4WD was photographed with recovery tracks strapped to its roof which would have helped free the tires.

A group of 11, including two children, had been driving in six cars in Pinnacles Reserve, near Townsville in north Queensland last month. The cars became bogged after heavy rainfall. One 4WD had recovery tracks on its roof

The group had travelled down a private road and ignored a warning sign that said only authority personnel were allowed into the area.

‘They later retrieved their vehicles but they left litter, and a lot of damage behind to the environment and the firebreak, which will cost about $50,000 to repair,’ Senior Conservation Officer Craig Dunk said.

While two drivers were slapped with the hefty fines, the owners of the remaining four cars escaped with a formal warning after they went to speak to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services to explain what had happened.

QPWS said all drivers expressed remorse for the damage they caused, while the vehicles, of which some were bogged to the car axles, were stuck in the area for weeks afterwards.

The group had illegally entered the protected zone and due to a recent 120mm dumping of rain in the area, their cars all became stuck on the night of February 4

The Queensland Department of Environment and Science shared photos of the path of destruction left behind from the group

Mr Dunk said the 4WDs had flattened and ripped out the vegetation from the area, causing holes of up to 60cm deep.

‘When vehicles break the surface of the soils in this area, the soils can essentially dissolve and erode very rapidly during rain events,’ he said.

‘Without remediation works, those bare areas are susceptible to the growth of weeds and ongoing erosion issues, and it could take months for natural vegetation to regrow.

‘The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service makes no apology for issuing fines to people who cause harm to our protected areas.’ 

A carton of Bundaberg rum and coke was also left behind.

The private road the cars travelled on into the area is critical to firefighters. 

The cars were abandoned in the area while those inside waded through the floodwaters

The cars were stuck in the area for weeks after

Pictured is the path of destruction left behind from the 4WDs