Spy camera protects park from 4WD hoons

PARK rangers have set up a spy camera at pretty Coonarr Beach, 30km south of Bundaberg in a crackdown on four-wheel-drive owners illegally damaging foreshore areas.

4WD hoons

PARK rangers have set up a spy camera at pretty Coonarr Beach, 30km south of Bundaberg in a crackdown on four-wheel-drive owners illegally damaging foreshore areas.

Feral drivers have used a chainsaw on "no access" signs, knocked down trees and pulled out bollards.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service also has been asked to set up cameras further north at Bustard Bay in the Agnes Water area, also to combat illegal 4WD access.

Environment Minister Kate Jones said yesterday the Coonarr camera had been in place only a few weeks so it was too early to gauge its success.

The area, part of Burrum Coast National Park, had been closed due to heavy rain but some people have refused to obey signs.

Some drivers might be contacted about illegal activities but at this stage no decision has been taken on fines.

"The only reason we've closed the area is public safety," Ms Jones said. "It's an extraordinary set of circumstances and an ongoing problem."

Ms Jones said she did not want to see taxpayer funds wasted repairing park roads simply because of damage by people who refused to obey signs.

Burnett Mary Regional Group spokesman Rachel Nasplezes said 4WD damage to both areas was substantial.

"Coastal sedgelands and salt marshes are so fragile and so easy to damage," she said.

"I don't understand where some of these guys come from. They seem to get great pleasure out of chainsawing down signs and ripping out bollards.

"The majority of people are respectful, especially the 4WD clubs."

In April last year a Coonarr resident called for Kinkuna to be closed after having to tow out more than 60 bogged 4WDs.

Bundaberg councillor Danny Rowleson also complained about vandalism, which included trees being pushed over after drivers were blocked by bollards.

Ms Nasplezes said 4WDs impacted on species such as nesting turtles and threatened water mice.

The water mouse, a burrowing native rodent that inhabits mangroves and tidal flats, is thought to have been hit hard by compaction caused by vehicles, mostly in wetland areas.

"This shy, reclusive little critter relies on habitat within and surrounding the tidal zone," Ms Nasplezes said.

With help from senior QPWS conservation officer Ian Gynther, Ms Nasplezes and her group have started surveying Coonarr and would search Bustard Bay, where water mice had been sighted about 10 years ago.

Extensive 4WD damage has also been recorded to foreshore species at North Stradbroke Island off Brisbane and late last year Forestry Plantations Queensland issued more than 50 fines to hoons trying out 4WDs in pine plantations between the city and Sunshine Coast.

Cameras have been set up in four national parks to help protect infrastructure, identify thieves and track down repeat 4WD offenders near Mackay and at Mount Archer National Park, Rockhampton a region with significant 4WD issues.

Cameras have also been used at Carnarvon Gorge National Park to protect ancient Murri art.