Visitors are reminded to play it safe and stick to the rules when enjoying State forests by ensuring their vehicle is registered and staying out of closed areas.

Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Regional Manager Jason Molkentin said staff in the Bathurst Management Area had reported an increase in unregistered vehicles and visitors riding or driving through active forestry operations.

“State forest roads are public roads and all the standard road rules apply – so drivers and riders need a valid licence, vehicles must be registered and you must follow signposted regulations, especially road closures,” Mr Molkentin said.

“Trail bike riders in State forests should expect to be pulled up to both present their licence and prove their registration is current.

“When part of a forest is closed it’s for your safety and driving or riding through these areas is especially dangerous. State forests contain active timber harvesting and replanting operations, which means we have heavy machinery carrying out hazardous operations in some areas and heavy vehicles using forest roads.

“The vast majority of visitors drive or ride responsibly, but unfortunately our staff have reported an increase in unsafe or illegal activities on State forest roads around Bathurst, which is very concerning.”

There is a speed limit of 60 kilometres an hour on forest roads, unless indicated by signs, but weather and road conditions can change quickly and there are some narrow, winding roads where drivers should take it easy and pay a bit of extra attention.

"While we encourage people to get out and discover local forests, stick to the rules so we can all get home safely,” Mr Molkentin said.

Visit forestrycorporation.com.au/visit or @visitnswforests on Facebook for more visitor information.

Media contact: Rod Campbell