Geraldton four-wheel-drivers saved from Point Moore beach ban

Point Moore Beach will not be closed to 4WD vehicles any time soon, with the City of Greater Geraldton defeating the motion to ban non-ranger or emergency services from driving onto the beach. At last night’s regular council meeting Cr Sally Elphick moved to request the State Government transport minister to establish an area prohibiting all non-essential vehicles from accessing Point Moore beaches for a period of 18 months. RELATED NEWS The motion also requested a report back to council 18 months into the ban to advise of the time with natural sand replenishment for the area and on long term recommendations for the protection of the area. People from both sides of the issue filled the gallery, with two against the motion requesting clarity of the reasoning and public consultation that promoted the motion during the public question time at the beginning of the meeting. Cr Elphick said she was concerned “hoon” drivers on the beach weren’t respecting the environment and causing damage to the dunes and vegetation, but spent most of her time reading statements from beach users who were frightened for their safety when 4WD vehicles were being used on the beach. “One 80 year old said her and her older husband are now too afraid to wander down to the beach because of hoons speeding, sometimes with a big dog to two and sometimes doing “burn-outs,” she said. Full City of Greater Geraldton August 2022 ordinary council meeting recording (starts at 1:23:40) “The aggression of some vehicle drivers leaves me feeling vulnerable to their anger and retribution. “I hear drivers driving recklessly along the beach and dunes nightly now and at times have felt unsafe walking along the beach as some car fishtail past me, blinding me with their spotlights.” She said her concern for the issue was spurred by her desire to protect the natural environment. “Vehicles trying to drive up the dunes, one resident said I could see the sea from my front door 30 years ago but there has been rehabilitation of the dune system since then, but this year has been the worst erosion she has seen in her time,” she said. “Wildlife and sea crabs are being destroyed, you don’t see many crabs down there very much now. “Personally I believe in taking responsibility for our environment and that’s why I raise this issue, and hopefully we will all start to take responsibility for our beaches whether you walk or four wheel drive.” Her speech was met with a round of applause from the gallery, but also by Cr Steve Douglas, Cr Caudwell, Cr Victor Tanti and Mayor Shane Van Styn speaking against the motion, which was ultimately defeated 11 votes to one. “The erosion that is there at Point Moore is not being directly caused by vehicles at this point...most of that erosion is being caused by storms and high tides,” Cr Douglas said. “Yes the vehicles have added to that but they haven’t been the primary cause, and that has been quite well noted in a whole lot of documents from the Department of Conservations and Wildlife and so forth. Cr Caudwell raised the idea of more enforcement of managing “antisocial behaviour” on the beach. Cr Douglas put forward an alternative motion to implement “appropriate management responses” to protect the dunes and people using the beaches, which may include include closing the beaches periodically if deemed necessary after events like severe storms, continuing beach monitoring and undertaking community consultation to raise awareness of the issue developing a solution to “beach erosion matters”, which was passed 11 votes to one.