IN response to Peter Sobey’s letter of 8 August, the Schlacer study he refers to compared beaches that have 250,000 cars per year with no car access beaches.
Not surprisingly that volume of cars did have a negative environmental impact.
Beach 4WD use in Nambucca Shire is a tiny fraction of that number.
Anyone familiar with our beaches would see that storm events are having a much greater impact through direct erosion and raw sewage overflows.
He also mentioned turtle hatchling impacts which are not relevant in Nambucca Shire.
We are a rural shire with outdoor activities like fishing, dog walking and surfing vital to our way of life and 4WD beach access in the current limited areas helps less able people have access.
Sensitive environmental areas in our shire are already off limits as are the most used beach areas at Scotts Head, Shelly Beach, Valla Beach and Main Beach.
Council Ranger statistics indicate compliance with the rules is high and the 4WD permit fees collected pay for all the access track maintenance including for emergency vehicles.
Let’s share the beaches with respect, keep our freedom to enjoy the outdoors and have a little tolerance for each other.
Regards,
James SAKKER,
Nambucca Shire Council Beach Access Committee.
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