Wednesday 2 September 2009

Let's have fun and ruin a beach

In Victoria we're not allowed to drive on a beach. But in New South Wales and Queensland it seems that the beach is assumed to be a highway. It's a shocking sight, and cannot be sustained surely.

This is the access to the beach at Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie and the second photo shows the damage being done on the beach by 4-wheelers. And who knows what unseen damage is being done to microscopic creatures and nesting birds.

2 comments:

Denis Wilson said...

Hi Boobook.
I agree totally.
Fraser Island, once a famous "jewel" has been absolutely ruined by the 4WD madness.
Once remote, it is now a 4WD highway for fishermen, and other crazies who have destroyed the bird habitat of isolated and undisturbed beaches.
Beach Thick Knees (Stone Curlews) are some of the most sensitive to disturbance, but Hooded Plovers and Little Terns are also in trouble for exactly the madness you have highlighted here.
Thanks for drawing attention to it.
Mick has written about the same issue, over at Sandy Straits.
Cheers
Denis

Gouldiae said...

G'day Boobook,
A sad indictment on (some) 4 wheel drivers. I find it so difficult to understand. Even Stephen Fry, intelligent as he is, (as well as humorous), drove his taxi on a beach in USA last Saturday night!
It's also a sad indictment of bureaucracy to allow it.
Regards,
Gouldiae.