Mackay council closes Harbour Beach East Point foreshore to drivers

Ex-NRL star turned North Qld councillor Marty Bella says he’s standing up for “little turtles” as he helps give 4WDs and motorbikes the boot from an idyllic beach.

Mackay councillor Martin Bella has lashed “hoons and yobbos” for turning Harbour Beach into an “absolute mess”.

A popular Mackay beach will be closed to 4WDs and motorcyclists after a colourful council meeting where ex-NRL star Martin Bella blamed “hoons and yobbos” from turning the spot into an “absolute mess”.

Harbour Beach has long been a hotspot for drivers and riders using the dirt road on East Point Dr to access the beach.

However, according to council estimates, driving on the dune access road and the beach has caused significant damage to the dunes and poses an ongoing threat to nearby turtle's nests.

Mackay District Turtle Watch (MTDW) President Steve Fisher spoke in favour of closing the East Point foreshore to motorists at the Council meeting on September 25. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Mackay District Turtle Watch (MDTW) President Steve Fisher said Harbour Beach was one of the region’s most dense turtle nesting beaches, with more than 1000 hatchlings born each year.

“MDTW envisage the surrounding beaches will become unsuitable for turtle nesting in the future,” Mr Fisher said.

“There will be an increase of nesting on Harbour Beach.”

Mr Fisher highlighted the council had the opportunity to better protect turtle nesting areas all year round, while also halting destruction to the “environmentally sensitive ecosystem” of the dunes.

“You have widespread community support,” Mr Fisher said.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

The access road on East Point Dr will be closed to the public from today onward.

Mr Bella spoke in favour of the measure, arguing it should have been the direction council took two years ago when limiting 4WD access to the beach was first proposed.

“The reasons we didn’t was because people were concerned about rec fishing or this and that,” Mr Bella said.
“People have a choice as to where they fish, how they fish, when they fish.
“Little turtles don’t and I’m always in favour of giving choice to those that don’t.”

Mr Bella said he didn’t blame recreational fishers for the degradation of the dune’s but instead turned to the “hoons and yobbos” who took advantage of the trail.

“It’s an absolute mess,” he said.

“For me this is two years that we’ve wasted and I’m very glad that it’s happening now.”

Councillor Jones, also secretary of the Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance Secretary said the inland track to the Pioneer River will remain open.

Councillor Alison Jones clarified access to the Pioneer River would still be available to fishing families via the inland track and stressed the importance of advocating for the local environment.

“This will mean that we are serious about protecting the foreshore on the beach,” Ms Jones said.

The council passed the banning of access to the foreshore unanimously and will initiate a public education and compliance campaign.

Mackay mayor Greg Williamson said council would co-ordinate with Queensland Police to enforce the closure following a grace period of “a couple of weeks”.

“This motion is quite simple,” Mr Williamson said.

“We have to take this action now.”

Originally published as Mackay council closes Harbour Beach East Point foreshore to drivers