Major rule change on Aussie beaches after tourists' ‘irresponsible’ Christmas act
The delicate ecosystem was damaged by irresponsible motorists last Christmas.
A major rule change for one state's beaches has come into effect this summer after tourists’ irresponsible acts last Christmas left a trail of destruction.
Visitors descended onto Goolwa Beach in South Australia to enjoy their holidays last Christmas but irresponsible four-wheel driving with wild manoeuvres left the sand dunes damaged. Mayor Keith Parks said it would take "years" for the popular beach to recover.
Now, the South Australian government has set new speed limits to protect beachgoers and the delicate ecosystem. "Goolwa Beach is still recovering from the damage inflicted by irresponsible 4WD activities in the sensitive dune areas over the 2022 Christmas period," Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes told Yahoo News Australia.
"The tracks made over the dunes by the 4WDs have opened up holes due to the high energy winds that this coastal area produces. It will still take many years to recover as the native vegetation is slow-growing."
New speed limits for ‘safer’ beaches
While 4WD vehicles are still allowed on the beach, the default speed limit on South Australian beaches is 40km/h and 25km/h when travelling within 50 metres of a person. Previously a 100km/h speed limit applied on beaches.
"The speed limit of 25km/h offers greater protection to vulnerable beachgoers, while the 40km/h speed limit reflects the risks associated with varying and unpredictable beach driving conditions," Mayor Parkes said.
"We want the community and visitors to enjoy the area, but people need to take care, stick to the new speed limits and stay off the sensitive dune areas."
From December 1, demerit points and fines apply if motorists are caught speeding on a beach.
Calls to make beaches safer for families
The change in speed limits comes after 80 per cent of survey respondents were in favour of a speed reduction.
"There’s nothing quite like descending onto the pristine expanse of South Australia’s coastline, but keeping yourself and others on the beach safe should always be the number one priority," said South Australian emergency services minister Joe Szakacs.
"Speed was a contributing factor to about 50 per cent of all crashes on beaches between 2017 and 2021, so earlier this year the Malinauskas Labor Government committed to review speed limits on beaches as part of the Road Safety Action Plan."
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Alexandrina Council chief executive officer Nigel Morris said the council first approached the Transport Department about the issue in 2021.
"When you're mixing cars, and horses and people, you really need to drive to the conditions. It is a family environment," he said. "You do go down to the beach for family enjoyment, and when you're having cars speeding past you, safety is not as paramount as it should be."
A similar issue is facing 4WD beaches along Queensland's Cooloola Coast although "hooning behaviour" there commonly involves "drivers being under the influence".
Another issue facing beaches in the region including Rainbow Beach, Cooloola Beach, Double Island Point and K’gari (Fraser Island) is their isolated location. This means help could take more than an hour to arrive. Phone reception is also unreliable along parts of the coast.
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