Grant Council advocate for Bungaloo Bay access track to remain open
A death trap beach track, which sees ambitious 4WDers reversing in front yards has been deemed “a real threat to life and property” and divided a community.
Mount Gambier
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A South East coastal community is divided by a beach access track.
One side of the debate believes Bungaloo Bay is inaccessible from the dangerous track but the majority of Pelican Point residents say, build a fence.
The track, between two private properties on Pelican Point Rd, is owned the Department of Environment and Water but after receiving a request for its closure earlier this year Grant Council has been forced to step in.
In a letter to the council concerned residents described the track “a nightmare beach access for the past 20 plus years” saying vehicles navigating it were a “real threat to life and property”.
It asked council to place bollards across the entry point, close the track to all vehicular traffic and erect signage while keeping it open to foot traffic.
“The beach is at this point is not accessible by car, but they still come in. It is a challenge to most 4WDs,” the letter read.
“As monitored by numerous residents this a real injury or death situation in the waiting.”
A regular visitor to one of the neighbouring homes – their parent’s beach shack – said they wanted the track closed before a serious accident occurred noting there two other nearby access points that “don’t go through properties”.
“We regularly experience reckless driving along the track with the intent to access the beach,” the submission said.
“Much to their dismay, the beach ramp is inaccessible, causing them to make awkward three point turns across our property, damaging the lawn, sprinklers and possession.
“Our children and pets have had several near misses with these manoeuvring and speeding vehicles.”
Yet Grant Council’s community consultation process found more than 60 per cent of respondents wanted the access to remain open to both vehicles and pedestrians.
The owners of the home across the road who purchased the property for its proximity to the beach access, wrote to council saying they did not want to be deprived of the beach they love.
“I appreciate the concerns that the property owners have, bearing in mind both properties are holiday homes,” the resident wrote.
“As simple solution that will resolve the problem is to fence the properties off from the access road thus giving the owners the privacy they are looking for, not close the access all together.”
During Monday night’s council meeting, Cr Gavin Clarke said many respondents had fairly raised fencing would fix the safety concerns while it was also discussed councillors had witnessed cars using the track to access the beach with no problem.
With the majority of respondents against the track closure, Cr Clarke moved to motion to advice DEW that there was strong community support for the beach access to remain open for vehicular, boat and pedestrian access.
Cr Shirley Little voted against the motion saying council should not get involved in the matter.
“It’s got to be a Department of Environment and Water decision,” Cr Little said.
Cr Kylie Boston also objected saying it had not solved the issue.
“Nothing is going to happen and we’ll just have the same letter come back in five years time,” Cr Boston said.
“I would like (DEW) to potentially spend some money and make the road a bit better but that’s obviously not going to happen.”
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