Will council look to resume land at Bangalee and Farnborough?
Here is what is possible, and what Livingstone’s councillors have been told about the controversial Farnborough Beach 4WD safety issue.
Rockhampton
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If Livingstone Shire Council decides the solution to the Farnborough Beach 4WD safety issue is a new beach access north of the existing Bangalee one, then it has the power to resume land to make it happen.
That’s what councillors were told at the recent ordinary meeting for July.
Livingstone’s manager Engineering Services Tony Lau said the council had the power under various pieces of legislation to resume land for road purposes.
“So should council decide to go down that avenue, it is very likely that it can be achievable because we have the power,” Mr Lau said.
“When we submit applications for resumption, there’s certain criteria we need to tick boxes for – the needs of a community etc. is a strong one.
“And have we looked at all other alternative options?
“And so when we look at all the different reasons why we want to proceed with a resumption, that gives us a better understanding of the likelihood of success.
“So in this instance, should council wish for officers to proceed with a resumption, then we would go through the process.
“So at the end of the day, it comes down to the Minister (State Government), and the Minister’s decisions, and I guess the argument from the landowner against the argument from council.
“I can’t predict what would happen, but that’s why I mentioned we do have the powers to resume land and it is possible.”
Calls for a safety upgrade at the access ramp to Farnborough Beach were renewed in 2019 when Yeppoon woman Clair Fitzpatrick spoke out after losing her partner Chris Poulsen in a freak accident at the site.
His accident occurred while trying to help another driver, his friend, get off the beach north of Yeppoon when the tow strap snapped back through his windscreen, hitting and killing him.
At the July council meeting this year, it appeared that a permit system for motorists using Farnborough Beach had been all but thrown on the scrap heap by Livingstone as it continues to figure out what to do about safety concerns.
Councillor Pat Eastwood weighed into the debate on the issue by calling on the community to “dob in a donut”.
Also at the meeting, Mayor Andy Ireland revealed who authorities said was responsible for causing four-wheel-drive destruction in the dunes at Farnborough Beach.
Councillors ultimately decided 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 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.
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