Autumn Change - WARNING – watch the speed signs

Those of you who have been to Thredbo recently, may have wondered about the new speed signs wrapped in black plastic. Yesterday I got more of a clue as to what is going on.

The plan, as I see it, is to have a lower speed section (I think 80kph) from the park entrance to the top of Pender Lea Hill. Another case of forced change for the sake of dealing with “the lowest common denominator”. Obviously the standard of driver in NSW is considered by the RTA to be well down on yesteryear when the cars were technically much less advanced than today. I can negotiate that section at ease doing 100kph (on all but 2 corners) but the RTA in its limited wisdom is about to change the speed limit. I’d rather they spend their time and our money by cleaning the drains on the Alpine Way above Thredbo. Several of these drains are full of leaves, branches and growing weeds. We all know what happened last time water backed up above the village.

There is also an extension to the 80kph zone at the end of the Alpine Way in Jindabyne and the first overtaking zone inside the National Park heading south has also been replaced by double yellow. Obviously the RTA thinks NSW drivers are more incompetent today.

So, what else has been happening in Thredbo? Not much, although there has been a lot of haze during the last week. According to radio announcements, it appears that the NPWS has been doing fuel reduction burning in the Kiandra area, and good to see.

I sometimes wake up in the morning wondering what planet the bureaucrats live on. There has been a lot of documentation floating around about the invasion of SE NSW by the European wasp. Why do the authorities allow it to get to the state that it has? Why is the cane toad such a threat? Why are the increasing numbers of rabbits, cats and dogs in the national park so evident? I do see lots of new tollgates, new shiny 4wd NPWS vehicles and the occasional helicopter flying overhead. What are their priorities? Is there, and if so what is their hidden agenda?

Enough of the grumpy old man report. The Thredbo Jazz Festival approaches and soon after that the Thredbo 50th birthday ball and soon after that the June long weekend official winter opening. Another winter approaches.

Hazy afternoon in Thredbo Valley

Lake Jindabyne islands growing – still a little damp between

Leaves, branches and weeds in drains above Thredbo

The trail up from Dead Horse Gap

Lush greens amongst the grey ghosts

Recovery from the bush fires is very slow

The top

Alpine pools near Karels T-bar

Spruced up quarters for Karels staff

Expanded snow making on Friday Flat

The weather this month has been beautifully mild. Warm during the day and cool at night, while gentle breezes keep the flies and sweat away. Autumn is a mellow time and the trees around Jindabyne and Berridale have put on a spectacular array of yellows, reds and browns as the deciduous trees do their autumnal thing. Today is overcast and grey.