New club aims to reopen South Ballina Beach to 4WD vehicles and influence coastal management

The group’s objectives are to promote a code of conduct for beach users, to assist land management, protect local fauna and flora, and support cultural fishing and gathering practices.

A 4WD vehicle at Patches Beach, Ballina.

A new community-based organisation aiming to get South Ballina Beach open again to 4WD vehicles has been formed in Ballina.

The Ballina Shire Southern Beaches Users Club was created in mid-May and it meets physically every fortnight.

Online, the club boasts more than 700 members on Facebook and it includes Ballina residents who are into 4WD driving and fishing in the area.

Committee member Emma Field outlined the long terms goals of the group.

“Our long term goals is to get the beach reopen again, and to come up with some form of management strategy o management plan for the beach,” she said.

“Our objective, as a club, is to promote a code of conduct for beach users, to assist land management, implement practices that protect local fauna and flora, plus to support the promotion of cultural fishing and gathering practices for local Indigenous communities.”

An organisation with a similar name existed in the early 2000s, formed by local 4WD and fisher groups.

Mrs Field said the group was in the process of becoming an incorporated association.

“We have people involved from the original group, people from local Aboriginal community, from 4WD clubs and also from local fishing clubs as well,” she said.

“We want to have a broader spectrum of people involved in this group, to discuss what happens with the beach.”

The group does not belong or have an association with any political group or party, she said.

The club has been discussing a number of ideas for management of coastal areas in the shire, and will liaise with Crown land and council in the near future.

A spokesman from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Crown Lands confirmed that local councils regulate 4WD access in their local areas under the Local Government Act (see Ballina and Richmond Valley Council local beach access policies as examples).

“Four-wheel drive access to South Ballina Beach was restricted due to ongoing concerns about public safety and impacts to the environment and Aboriginal heritage values,” he said.

“This followed a request by Ballina Shire Council and consultations between it, Richmond Valley Council, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Crown Lands, National Parks & Wildlife Service, Police, Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Bandjalang Aboriginal Corporation.”