23Closure of forest roads

23 Closure of forest roads

(1)  In this section –

artificial barricade includes a gate or chain;

prescribed sign means a sign that clearly indicates that the forest road, or the section of forest road, in respect of which it is erected is closed to all traffic or to a class of traffic;

traffic means pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

(2)  The Forest Manager may close a forest road or any section of forest road either permanently or temporarily to all traffic, or to a class of traffic, if the Forest Manager considers that the closure is necessary or expedient –

(a) for the purposes of discharging its responsibilities; or

(b) in the interests of safety.

(3)  The closure may be effected by means of –

(a) a prescribed sign; or

(b) a prescribed sign in conjunction with an artificial barricade; or

(c) a prescribed sign in conjunction with an earthen barricade; or

(d) a prescribed sign in conjunction with a trench –

or by any combination of those means.

(4)  A person must not –

(a) drive or use a vehicle on; or

(b) be on or otherwise use –

a forest road or a section of forest road that has been closed in accordance with this section or in contravention of the regulations.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

(5)  In any proceedings under subsection (4) , a certificate purporting to be signed by a person authorised, in writing, by the Forest Manager and stating that, at a particular time, a forest road or a section of forest road was closed to all traffic, or to a class of traffic, and that the closure was effected in accordance with this section, is admissible as evidence that, at that particular time, the forest road or section of forest road was so closed.