Livingstone ‘going around in circles’ on Farnborough 4WD safety issue
Councillor Glenda Mather is critical of the way Livingstone Shire Council has handled this ongoing issue which it is yet to find a solution for.
Rockhampton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rockhampton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Renowned for being a straight shooter, Cr Glenda Mather has called out Livingstone Shire Council for going around in circles on the Farnborough Beach 4WD safety issue.
It seems an eternity ago that Cr Adam Belot raised safety and congestion concerns late in 2019 in relation to the existing Bangalee access to Farnborough Beach.
At the last ordinary meeting of council, Cr Mather was critical of what had been achieved since.
“We've dwelt, like other things that we have going around, and around, and around - this is one of them,” she said.
“And I don’t mind, like I said before, how long it takes to get things right as long as we take our time and do our homework.
“As for the alternate accesses to the beach - how many times have we done (looked at) that?
“And what have we ended up with?
“We’ve got to ask ourselves the same thing, exactly the same thing.”
Cr Mather also spoke about investigations into a possible new beach access north of the existing Bangalee one.
The challenge for the council is that most of that land is owned by Iwasaki Sangyo Company.
“The landowner has said several times: ‘I’m not interested,’” Cr Mather said.
“And I think this landowner is one that you really must listen to because they have political clout.
“And if we end up rubbing them the wrong way, we could end up in more trouble than enough.”
Cr Mather was also concerned that the council was “wasting resources”.
“We’re asking our officers to go back and reaffirm what alternatives we have.
“We’ve done it - how many times?
“We’ve ended up with the same result.
“And we’re asking them to do it again.”
Cr Mather said the further development of a traffic management strategy that aimed to reduce errant driver behaviour and help protect the natural coastal habitat was the only solution at the moment.
“But there’s nothing in place to actually control it,” she said.
“We can educate them (beach drivers) and we’ve tried to do that over a long period of time, but it hasn’t worked to date.
“That’s why we’re still here.
“We haven’t addressed what we’re going to do to make them comply, and how we’re going to catch them when they don’t comply.
“So I think that’s where we need to focus.”
Cr Pat Eastwood spoke after Cr Mather, saying the problem was not the existing ramp at Bangalee, but its location.
“We’re going to continue to have problems in front of Bangalee residents whilst we have that location,” Cr Eastwood said.
“We can’t control drivers’ behaviour, but we can control where they’re allowed to drive.”
Cr Eastwood said an alternate access had to be found.
At the July council meeting this year, it appeared that a permit system for motorists using Farnborough Beach has been all but thrown on the scrap heap by Livingstone as it continues to figure out what to do about safety concerns.
Cr Eastwood also called on the community to “dob in a donut.”
At the meeting, Mayor Andy Ireland revealed who authorities said was responsible for causing four-wheel-drive destruction in the dunes at Farnborough Beach.
WHAT COUNCILLORS DECIDED IN JULY, 2021
Councillors ultimately decided Livingstone would only expend necessary funds to maintain Bangalee ramps to allow them to function.
They also stood strong on a commitment to investigate an alternate/additional Farnborough Beach/Big Dune Beach vehicle access, north of Bangalee, in order to address current and future growth.
Councillors also voted for a report to come back to the October meeting in relation to the development of a traffic management strategy.
Councillors further decided that a public meeting would be held with the Bangalee community and interested stakeholders.
The purpose of that meeting would be to get more input from the public in relation to a potential new or alternate access to Farnborough Beach.
Originally published as Livingstone ‘going around in circles’ on Farnborough 4WD safety issue
Two people accused of trying to drag man from ute at traffic lights
Two people allegedly approached a red Holden Colorado stopped at red light in Norman Gardens and attempted to pull a driver from the vehicle, prompting an appeal from police
MAPPED: Every SEQ croc sighting as fisherman shares shock encounter
A fisherman who says he’s seen the “humanised” campground croc rangers are searching for has spoken out as an expert explains why the “vagrant” reptile’s future is likely bleak and the history of recent southern sightings is revealed.
She asked him to watch kids, not YouTube – so he trashed the house
Shirtless and viewing YouTube videos on the couch while he waited for his dinner, a Qld man was asked to watch the children while his partner cleaned. His reaction was so extreme, police had to intervene.
Four dead in four years: Inside notorious Qld jail
Following the latest death in custody at a Queensland jail, we look back at others who have died there in just a few years and the 20-year history of the grey cellblocks known for housing some of the state’s most high-profile prisoners.
WATCH: Bottle-o trashed, bollards ripped out in alleged ram raid with stolen car
Police are hunting for the accused thieves of a stolen vehicle used to smash through the steel roller door of a Central Qld bottle shop, destroying it and trashing the store. VIDEO
REVEALED: Capras U17 boys captains, final squad for 2025 season
Coach Todd Hansen said it was hard work settling on the make-up of his squad for this season’s Cyril Connell Cup. See who made it and who will lead the under-17 boys outfit.