Beach hooning back in spotlight after Casino boy, 17, charged with driving dangerously on Airforce Beach at Evans Head

Hooning on Ballina Shire beaches, including at tourist haven Evans Head, is back in the spotlight after police allegedly busted a teenage P-plater letting loose.

Dunes torn up on Airforce Beach Evans Head.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with hooning on an Evans Head beach after police reviewed footage posted to social media.

The teen P-plater was allegedly spotted driving dangerously on Airforce beach on Friday, December 15.

“Police will allege in court that the driver of the ute engaged in reckless driving including the prolonged loss of traction,” Richmond Police District said in a statement.

Police went to a Casino home and spoke to the boy, who was issued a court attendance notice for driving recklessly and dangerously, and prolonged loss of traction.

Dunes torn up on Airforce Beach, Evans Head.

“Several other young people have since been interviewed in relation to the matter and investigations are ongoing,” police state.

The boy is due to face court on January 24 next year, while the ute has been impounded for three months.

It’s not the first time dangerous driving on beaches in Ballina Shire and the tourist haven of Evans Head have been in the spotlight.

In 2021, Richmond Valley Council said the entire stretch of beach between Evans Head and Ballina could be closed to four-wheel drives.

The council closed the Boundary Creek access point, restricted driving on Airforce and Broadwater beaches in some spots, and introduced a consistent speed limit of 20kmh.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of beachgoers, as well as plants and wildlife.

A Woodburn woman who works in Evans Head, and did not wish to be named, alleged her son passed the ute driver flying on the beach.

“He told me the car passed him going at 140kmh,” she said.

However, she also said hooning was not becoming noticeably worse in recent times and the problem was greater in nearby towns such as Woodburn.

The ute the 17-year-old allegedly drove. Picture: NSW Police.

The sentiment was echoed by Evans residents such as Craig McKenna and Kerry Lee at Evans Head Newsagency.

They both said they had not heard anything about an increase in dangerous driving on beaches, despite rumblings on social media.

Kiralee Strong, who owns Beachside Bargains, believed most incidents come from “out-of-towners” who drive into Evans Head on weekends.

Know more about dangerous driving on Ballina Shire beaches? Phone Policelink on 131 444.