The ‘money-grabbing’ new fee making families rethink their 4WD holidays

"The beach is literally the cheapest thing to do in summer for families, so it's a shame people can't do that anymore if they can't afford it."

A local council is set to rake in half a million dollars in cash this summer after introducing a new fee to drive onto popular tourist beaches in Adelaide. 

Families looking to enjoy the summer weather will now need to pay $12 for a day pass to access Aldinga, Moana, Sellicks, and Silver Sands beaches if they do not have a permit. 

This is an increase from the $8 fee from the previous year.

The not-for-profit volunteer organisations invited to collect the fees at the specified beach access points will receive just one-third of the total funds. Meanwhile, the council will receive the remaining amount - a projected $375,000 over the upcoming summer months. 

The profits will be used to manage and maintain the foreshore environment and keep the area safe where vehicles are permitted.

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"Should be illegal"

Drivers who have a valid council vehicle beach access permit are not required to pay the fee, but people who drive on the beach without a permit will be penalised $187.

While the change passed community engagement earlier this year, many have since argued that “no one owns” beaches and they should be free to access. 

“Beaches are free, no one owns them," declared one user. “They have no right to charge people to drive on the beach!! Regardless if it’s for charity.”

Someone else went so far as to say that “this should be illegal.”

“Either have the beach open or not. It's not about vehicles on the beach. It's the insult of having to pay for something that is free for the rest of the year,” they added.

Then this user quipped: “Next thing you know, they’ll be charging us for breathing.”

Another commenter said the increase from $8 to $12 was “fairly steep.”

Then one mum said the council was not only “taking away everyone’s fun” but also making the beach inaccessible for people with kids. 

“Parking on the road or parking on the beach… I know which one is easier for parents,” they said.

Another avid camper told Kidspot, “I kind of get why they do it but we stopped going to our favourite 4WD beach when they started charging for entry. I guess they introduced a fee because it started to get very busy but the beach is literally the cheapest thing to do in summer for families, so it's a shame people can't do that anymore if they can't afford it.”

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Locals back the charge

However, someone else genuinely thought it was a “great idea” while other sustainability-minded locals said it was an effective way to reduce the number of cars on beaches. 

“No cars on the beach, best sustainable and enjoyable way,” one said.

Others pointed out how it was helping to give back to the community, with one person writing: “The money collected goes to local events and sports clubs... money back into the community is always a good thing in my opinion." 

Then someone else hit out at people complaining about the fee: “If you don’t want to pay, go to another beach, if you do, then pay.”

But someone replied: “It's not fair to simply say if you can't afford it, then don't park on the beach.”

What do you think about the fee? Let us know in the poll above. 

Originally published as The ‘money-grabbing’ new fee making families rethink their 4WD holidays