Anger continues over closure of South Ballina Beach, with calls to ban QLD drivers

After the sudden decision to ban 4WDs from South Ballina Beach, there are some extreme alternatives being suggested.

One Northern Rivers resident reckons Queenslanders should be banned from South Ballina Beach.

As anger continues over the sudden decision to close South Ballina Beach to four-wheel drives, residents have made alternate suggestions.

Vehicles have been banned from the beach since March 31.

Environmental concerns and bad beach behaviour have been cited as the main reasons for the closure.

While people admit there is a problem with hoons, they say a minority is ruining it for others who do the right thing.

Ballina Shire councillor Keith Williams will present a motion to Thursday’s council meeting, calling for some amendments to the group of “approved users”.

He says it should include immediate neighbours, seniors and members of local fishing clubs.

On The Northern Star’s Facebook page, readers had some other ideas.

Chilli A Chilcott suggested it was northerners who were to blame for the problems on Northern Rivers beaches.

“Queenslanders come down here in convoys for day trips specifically for the purpose of hooning on Seven Mile Beach (at Lennox Head) and South Ballina Beach,” the comment stated.

“It wouldn’t be a problem if it was ruled NSW-only beach access.”

Trent Collins said a permit system, which is in place at Lennox Head, should be tried at South Ballina.

“Ratepayers should get a free permit each year,” he wrote.

Paul Coleman said people should stop assuming they had an “inalienable right to go where we want”.

“Something that was allowed 20 years ago or yesterday can be stopped at anytime by the owner of that land – in this case the state government,” he wrote.

“Because it is something that can be taken away by the State it cannot be categorised as a right. It is therefore a privilege.”

Linnet Stuart said members of 4x4 clubs should be allowed on the beach: “They do tremendous work cleaning and caring for our beaches.

“Why should they be banned but allow people who bring their dogs to sh-t on the beach?”

Mark Cooke agreed that locals should have access, while other users should get permits, and Ryan Dunn said anyone who disrespected the beach should be fined.

Tracey Davis wrote: “Not all 4WDs are at the hands of stupidity.”