Beaches

In recent years, council has received an increasing number of complaints regarding vehicles on beaches. These relate to:

• Wildlife being threatened (including protected wildlife such as sea lions and penguins).
• Vehicle use being a nuisance and a danger to others wanting to enjoy the beaches.

Council’s Freedom Camping ranger has also observed incidents of concern involving vehicles on beaches.

In September 2022 Council decided to adopt a Vehicles on Beaches Bylaw, to respond to the concerns of our community regarding vehicle use on our beaches and to protect and maintain public health and safety. The bylaw will come into effect on 1 January 2023.

The key rules in the Vehicles on Beaches Bylaw are:

• People driving on beaches are required to do so in a way that does not threaten the safety of people, plants or native animals

• Vehicles are not allowed on sand dunes, except to access the beach.

• Vehicles are not allowed to drive along the beach above the high-water mark, except in emergencies.

The adopted bylaw does not include any vehicle prohibited areas (safe zones).

However, it allows for safe zones to be created by Council resolution following appropriate monitoring and consultation. Monitoring may include effectiveness of existing bylaw provisions and the impacts of vehicles on human safety, wildlife and ecosystems.

No. Crib owners and visitors to the crib can still use a vehicle to access their property via the beach.

So long as people stick to the rules listed above, they can access the beach with a vehicle for any activity.

The bylaw is just one tool to help manage vehicles on beaches. Council compliance officers and rangers could issue infringement notices. Police also enforce the law, and any bylaw rules.