Main Menu
Sub Main Menu
sunshine coast
noosa
coolum
national
world
6:13AM Tuesday 02 December, 2008

4WD owners angry over beach access changes

4 September 2008

| By Peter Gardiner

Four-wheel-drive enthusiasts are angry over plans to increase camping fees and reduce speed limits on Noosa’s north shore.

Years of overcrowding and neglect on the well-worn beach tracks to Double Island Point and Freshwater campground have been tackled by the state government in its Strategic Directions for Cooloola.

The management vision for an area that locals want World Heritage listed was launched yesterday on the Coast by sustainability minister Andrew McNamara, but the proposals for four-wheel drive access permits, speed restrictions and camping population caps are already under fire.

Sunshine Coast 4WD Club president Peter Kenny said the new permit fees and increased camping costs were a hit to the already stressed wallets of enthusiasts.

Mr Kenny predicted the $37 monthly and $185 yearly permit charges would put this favourite camping area off limits to many families.

“That’s exactly what it is – a money grab. We’ll never see anything of it back,” he said.

Mr Kenny said introducing new permits, coupled with fuel cost blowouts on top of a rise in camp fees from $4.50 to $4.85 a night would be unaffordable for many people.

“A lot of our members who go up there now will have to look for somewhere else to camp.”

The government also plans to cap Easter and Christmas campers at 15km Teewah Beach zone to 2000, 1800 in the shoulder season and 600 in the off season. This represents a reduction of about 1000 at peak times.

Freshwater campground will be expanded to take an extra 100 campers, while the Noosa North Shore camp ground is likely to be expanded.

The 65km beach section of designated road will have a 80kph maximum speed with 50kph limits near the official camp sites and from Leisha Track to Double Island. As well, beach access between First and Third Cutting will be banned.

Paul Johnson, who runs Noosa 4WD, said he had all but given up going to this tourist recreational magnet because of the lack of facilities.

“I won’t take my family there because you have thousands of tourists and no toilets – they all dig holes and do their business in there and it all comes out on the beach,” he said.

Mr Johnson said the area had gone septic from years of inaction, but he conceded that permits might be acceptable if the money raised was all spent on upgrading facilities.

However Mr Johnson said he would like to see local residents exempted from paying the permits at least.

Mr McNamara said he hoped $2 to $3 million could be raised through the proposed new charges for better facilities and more rangers.

“This plan sets sensible limits so people can continue to enjoy themselves in safety while we protect the environment,” Mr McNamara said.

“It a future that’s better for people and for the environment.

“Queensland taxpayers have recently made substantial investments in the area, including the $1.2 million upgrade of visitor facilities and the $1.3 million Great Walk that’s under construction.

“It’s only fair that the users continue to contribute through reasonable fees like those charged in comparable areas around the state.”

The proposed changes will go back to Cabinet before further consultation before being referred back to the Sunshine Coast and Gympie Regional councils. Mr McNamara said there would be negotiations with landowners.

The Cooloola proposal:

4WD beach access permits of $37.10 a month or $185.50 for a year with a 20% discount for people who buy Cooloola and Fraser Island permits together.

Campers at Teewah Beach capped at 2000 at Easter and Christmas holidays, 1800 for shoulder season and 600 in the off-season . Inskip Point would be capped at 3000 peak and 1800 other times.

Speed limits on the beach, which is a designated road, will be 80kph, with 50kph at camp areas and from Leisha Track to Double Island Point.

Vehicles will be excluded from between the First Cutting and Third Cutting, the last small beach north of Double Island and at adjacent the Inskip Point camp ground.

Recent Comments

Add a comment
Posted by pistnbroke from noosa
on 4 September, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
If we must have these charges then make it easy to get a permit..pay and print over the internet for instance , at the post office or newagent. I have been to frazer island 4 times and did not know a permit was required never saw a sign or anywhere to get one .The ferry would have been an ideal place . We dont want a huge detour to some rangers hut we carnt find and then discover its unmanned .If we are paying we want service!
Posted by Beach_Driver from Nambour
on 4 September, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why is it that after someone gets injured or hurt by a 4wd on the beach that it's all about the 4wd's and the drivers. It's convienient that we as drivers, are told to obey road rules on the beach - it's a road - keep left, speed limits etc, but pedestrians do not have to abide by the small runs - do you ever see people 'playing' on a major road or highway, or setting up their chairs and umbrealls and fishing rods on them - NO!

So why is it that it's one set of rules for the drivers and no rules for the people. For those people who regularly visit this particular stretch of beach, the number of parents who simply let their children run wild on the beach, it's no wonder that people are hurt. So many times I have been driving along this stretch, and children simply come out of nowhere - no a parent or adult supervision in site. In these situations the children scare themselves and simply run, and not necessarily in the right direction.

I am so very aware of this, and am always well under the recommended speed limit, but there are also the bad drivers who when driving in line, get frustrated you're driving slower and overtake you and the thought of what could happen scares me alot. It's such a shame that the small number of 4wd drivers who act like this on the beach, are the ones who ruin it for the good drivers. I agree that there should be some sort of fee - as there are no facilities apart from Freshwater or through on the Rainbow Beach side, but to have to pay so much, I know I'd rather take my business and buy a Fraser Island permit and I know I'm not alone. Then this will cause a bigger problem for Fraser Island - more traffic on that Island.

But at the end of the day, common sense should prevail for all involved - drivers, campers, Government. What's happening to the world!!!!!
Posted by whatthea from Maroochydore
on 4 September, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Would 4wd owners like a tissue to dry their eyes, suck it up and move on.
Posted by deetoy from Bellbowrie
on 8 September, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I dont have a problem with permits and restricted numbers if the $ are spent on facilities. Have just spent another weekend there I have become increasingly disgusted at the unneccessary tracks over the dunes. Spend the $ to block off tracks not required. Put some conveyor belting down on the freshwater access track and make a backroads access to the lighthouse so the beach doesn't get chopped up by 4wd's. Most people just want to visit the beautiful spots and the 4wd'ing is just a means to get there.

Build a few toilets or make it mandatory to use a porta potty.

Having said all that, the damage to the beach is mostly by the wind and waves.

The EPA has an online booking system for permits and camp fees. Bribie beach permits can be bought there, hopefully the dbl island point permits will be available there also.

80kph is too high a limit for beach driving, 50 should be adequate.
Posted by smashadotcom80 from Sunshine beach
on 10 September, 2008 at 2:23 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I have read everyones comments and can agree with some and disagree with others, I'm currently traveling the world and have heard many stories from travelers about the place i call home,, and well there are 3 things that always get mentioned, our beaches, our lifestyle , and how lucky we are to be able to enjoy them,

I have been fortunate enough to have gown up in Sunshine beach and have spent my childhood camping on the North shore, I have seen the changers to the area, and although i can't say i can agree with them, but then again you can't help progress, we can only manage the changers so that others can come to enjoy the region in the future ,,, i just hope one day i can take my kids camping in the cooloola region when i finaly return to the area,,, even if i have to pay the permits,,,
Posted by FrankC from wollongong
on 10 September, 2008 at 10:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I do not understand why a person would want to treat a beach like a highway - why go to a beautiful place and ruin it for everyone else?? Lets ban all 4wd's from all beaches Australia wide - get out and walk you lazy b******s so everyone can have a great time enjoying fishing, camping, surfing, lying on the beach, playing with the kids, whatever - 4 wd's are turning Australia beaches into massive highways and carparks - ugly and dangerous.
And please don't pretend it's about recreational opportunities for the less well off - if you can afford one of those great big whoppers you can afford to 1. go somewhere else or at least 2. pay the permit fees. Stop whinging and start thinking!
Posted by xy_ute from buderim
on 28 September, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think it is utterly ridiculous to impliment a 'monthly' or 'yearly' permit to the 4wd beach, to majority of coastal residents this is not a planned thing, its a random decision usually made mid week to spend the weekend up the beach, in some cases you will not go there for 2 months, on the other hand on saturday morning you may decide to go for the day, what im getting at is that due to the ease and avaliability, some sunshine coast residents do not plan a beach trip asif it were a holiday to Sydney. . introducing the requirement to purchase a monthly or yearly permit will simply be too much of a pain in the ass for those that made a rondom decision to go up, they just won't bother going, all this will do is half the number of people attending the beach, which will see small local businesses such as the bakery, butcher, and even barge experience a great loss of income and tourist flow. Why would someone that will only attend the beach 4 random unplanned times a year purchase a yearly pass for $185.50
WAKE UP TO YOURSELVES,
STOP TRYING TO CASH IN ON EVERYTRHING!

Have your say

We welcome comments on our stories and blogs - after all it's your site. Please note comments should be on-topic and not abusive. Comments are checked before publication.