Campers call for clarity over beach access at secluded Blaksley anchorage at Straddie
Boaties using a North Stradbroke Island anchorage popular on Australia Day have been left confused about whether they can still walk on the beach after bollards were recently installed.
Redlands Coast
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Australia Day boaties using a secluded bay island anchorage have been left confused over whether they can walk on a section of beach and foreshore at Minjerribah North Stradbroke Island.
Day trippers to Blaksley anchorage, south of Dunwich, were bewildered over public access to a section of the beach in front of some newly erected bollards.
Twelve new fence posts and a billboard with a map classifying the cordoned off area were erected at Blaksley beach, south of Dunwich, before the Christmas holidays.
The bollards segregated a public waterfront camping area from a campsite which was open only to traditional owners.
A map on the new billboard showed the sectioned-off land was for the sole use of Quandamooka traditional owners.
The billboard also stated that anyone wanting to camp on land behind the bollards must obtain authorisation from the native title holders, the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation.
However, the billboard did not stipulate if the public could use the beach in front of the restricted campsite.
Local boatie and long-time Blaksley camper Luke Seaborne was told he could not walk on parts of the foreshore, but was left confused about whether he could walk on stretches of the beach.
Mr Seaborne, who set up a Facebook page for people who love Blaksley, called the phone number on the billboard to ask for permission to walk on the beach in front of the cordoned-off area.
“I always go to Blaksley on the Australia Day long weekend for a walk on the beach and I was shocked to see that bollards had been erected sectioning off part of the waterfront,” Mr Seaborne said.
“I rang the number on the billboard to ask for permission to walk on that section of the beach and was surprised when Minjerribah Camping told me I could not go beyond the bollards.
“I then asked if I could walk on the beach in that area and Minjerribah Camping said they did not manage the site and told me to call the state government’s parks department.
“I called the state government because I wanted to do the right thing, but I have been left more confused about where I can freely access.”
A Department of Science and Environment spokesman said a small section of Blaksley camping area was set aside for the exclusive use of the Quandamooka People.
He did not elaborate on whether the beach in front of the restricted area was open to the public.
“A small section of Blaksley camping area has been set aside for the exclusive use of the Quandamooka People, which they are entitled to as the native title owners of the land,” the spokesman said
“There are also 10 sites available for public use.”
The state government tightened camping regulations at Blaksley in 2022 after the site was left in a mess, with rubbish bins overflowing and broken glass and toilet paper in the bush.
Land, flora and fauna are protected at the site, part of the Naree Budjong Djara National Park, was jointly managed by the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Native title existed at the site and it was Aboriginal land under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991.
QYAC was contacted for comment.
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