Noosa Council blasted for inaction over beachside public land and dunes

Some beachside property owners have been called out for claiming sand dunes as their own with “private property” signs, newly cleared beach paths and gardens extensions.

Marcus Beach Bushcare Association president Judy Tulloch and Peregian Beach Community Association president Barry Cotterell have joined forces to highlight the Noosa Council’s inaction over landholders claiming public beachside land as their own. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Two environmental groups have joined forces and gathered hundreds of signatures protesting landowners who claim beachside public land and dunes as their own.

Peregian Beach Community Association president Barry Cotterell said successive Noosa councils had done little to stop some beachside property owners extending their lawns onto public land and into dunes.

He said in Peregian Beach over the years some landholders had even put outdoor furniture on the land, erected private property signs or cleared paths through the dunes to the beach.

The president said barbecues, play equipment, lawn, private access paths and non-native plants all “adversely impact” the dunes.

“Noosa’s vegetated frontal dunes provide a critical buffer to storm surges,” Mr Cotterell said.

Marcus Beach Bushcare Association president Judy Tulloch and Peregian Beach Community Association president Barry Cotterell have joined forces to highlight the Noosa Council’s inaction over landholders claiming public beachside land as their own. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The REA Group’s October figures showed the median price for a Sunshine Beach house was $3.25m – the highest house value in the Noosa shire – while in Marcus Beach it was $2m.

In Peregian Beach the median house value was $1.59m.

A private property sign erected on public land at Peregian Beach. Picture: Contributed

Marcus Beach Bushcare Association president Judy Tulloch said her group had gathered nearly 300 signatures from residents concerned about encroachment onto the Marcus Beach Coastal Reserve.

The community group leaders last week presented the Noosa Council with the petition.

She said the council needed to take a “proactive, zero tolerance approach” to the “illegal” appropriation of public land.

“A nature reserve is not a garden,” Ms Tulloch said.

A table and chairs built by a private resident at Peregian Beach. Picture: Contributed

“Individuals are not entitled to cut down trees, do landscaping, earth moving and planting on public land as if it were their own property.”

Mr Cotterell said he was concerned that council inaction over the years had allowed “many examples” of serious dunal infrastructure and encroachment, especially at Sunshine Beach.

“Neighbours are now apparently pointing to the encroachments to justify further encroachments,” he said.

A council spokesman said councillors received a presentation from concerned residents at its most recent ordinary meeting.

He said a petition was also tabled to the chief executive, seeking urgent action regarding encroachment management.

Environment and sustainable development director Kim Rawlings said encroachments into public land was a “significant” and complex issue.

Ms Rawlings said the council was drafting an eastern beaches foreshore management plan that would involve public consultation and targeted stakeholder engagement next year.

“We are also developing a shire-wide and comprehensive council-managed land encroachments policy,” she said.

“It’s important to get a clear and consistent policy approach and identify the resources required to better manage encroachments on public land.”

Ms Rawlings said encroachments could include damage to vegetation, filling, dumping rubbish, yard extensions, private infrastructure and unauthorised plantings, which all could impact on the health, resilience and safety of the natural coastal dune system.

She said any approach to managing encroachments would need a site-by-site consideration.

Originally published as Noosa Council blasted for inaction over beachside public land and dunes