Tide goes out on permit system for Farnborough Beach drivers

New light has been shed on what options are, and are not, likely to be taken by Livingstone Shire Council.

A permit system for motorists using Farnborough Beach has been all but thrown on the scrap heap by Livingstone Shire Council.

Confirmation of this was heard as the latest chapter in the “how to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety” on the popular stretch of coastline played out at the council table last week.

Councillor Andrea Friend directed a series of questions on the issue to Livingstone’s manager Engineering Services Tony Lau.

With one of those, Ms Friend asked if Livingstone’s investigations into whether legislation would allow the council to implement a permit system, were complete.

Mr Lau responded: “Yes, officers have investigated and it has been completed.

“The outcome of the officers’ investigation was that council does not have the power to enforce or introduce a permit system where road users have to pay to use a particular road reserve.

“And there’s an enforcement issue as well - council currently doesn’t have the power to enforce.

“But that’s not to say that if, council may pass resolution or council may seek the powers from the State Government, similar to paying tolls on roads for example.

“So if council wished for officers to further investigate those specific circumstances, where if we can say talk to the State Government for example...we can continue if council wishes to, but at this stage our investigation outcome is that.”

Cr Adam Belot, Cr Pat Eastwood, Clair Fitzpatrick and friends rally for a safer alternative to the Bangalee ramp. File photo.

It now seems unlikely the council will pursue that avenue.

At last week’s July ordinary meeting, councillors ultimately decided that Livingstone would only expend necessary funds to maintain Bangalee ramps to allow them to function.

They also stood strong on a commitment to investigate an alternate/additional Farnborough Beach/Big Dune Beach vehicle access, north of Bangalee, in order to address current and future growth.

Councillors also voted for a report to come back to the October meeting in relation to the development of a traffic management strategy.

Councillors further decided that a public meeting would be held with the Bangalee community and interested stakeholders.

The purpose of that meeting would be to get more input from the public in relation to a potential new or alternate access to Farnborough Beach.

It seems an eternity ago that Councillor Adam Belot raised safety and congestion concerns late in 2019 in relation to the existing Bangalee access to Farnborough Beach.