Permanent night driving ban looms for Farnborough Beach, Yeppoon
A permanent night driving ban is looming for the Capricorn Coast’s most popular beach. Here’s what it means for four-wheel-drive, boating and fishing lovers.
Rockhampton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rockhampton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A permanent night driving ban is looming for the Capricorn Coast’s most popular beach, but there are some boxes to be ticked before authorities can put the new local laws in place.
The Farnborough Beach Access Group, formed to help find solutions to issues with vehicle traffic on the popular stretch of coastline at Yeppoon, has recommended Livingstone Shire Council close Farnborough Beach to vehicles from 8pm to 4am.
The only exclusion from the proposed night ban would be for people launching and retrieving vessels, as the area is popular with fishers and provides access to Corio Bay.
The proposed night driving ban for Farnborough Beach was discussed at the most recent monthly council meeting, where councillors unanimously agreed to amend the relevant local law, which effectively gives the council a mechanism to restrict vehicle access and, if it wishes, introduce a permanent night ban.
Councillor Pat Eastwood said since the Farnborough Beach Access Group was established, some “excellent changes” had been made to improve safety and conservation on Farnborough Beach.
“We’ve seen less damage, we’re starting to see less vehicle movements, and people are generally realising that it’s a place where you need to behave and need to adhere to not only local laws, but you need to adhere to the State laws,” Mr Eastwood said.
“So we’re starting to see people behave themselves and that’s, I guess, the whole crux of this, is to make things better for our community, particularly the residents of Bangalee.”
The council has previously trialled night beach driving bans.
“The use of Farnborough Beach is currently not regulated in council’s suite of local laws,” a Livingstone Shire Council spokesperson said.
“Council is currently undertaking a complete review of its local laws, and the night time restrictions proposed would need to be included within the proposed Local Law No. 4 (Council Controlled Areas Facilities and Roads) for council to enforce the requirements of the restrictions.”
The council spokesperson said this review of council’s local laws was required to be undertaken by the State Government.
The good news for the public is they will get a chance to “have a say” before any new local laws come into effect.
“(This review) also includes public consultation as part of the review process,” the council spokesperson confirmed.
“Given that this process has no current timeline and is subject to the State Government’s final approval, no date for the proposed law to take effect can be determined at this time.”
Latest hold up in ex-karate instructor’s alleged historical child sex offences
A fresh update in the case of alleged historical child sex offences against a former Queensland karate instructor has been provided in court. Read here what’s going on.
It’s a disaster: Damning report exposes how system let Qld down
Jaw-dropping tales of failures in disaster communications – including one in which a stranded group had to phone relatives in Scotland for help – have been laid bare.