Some Ballina councillors have their heads in the sand about vehicles on beaches! I ask them to think about the fact that increasingly other areas have banned vehicles on beaches and that this was done for good reasons. Beaches in Ballina Shire are some of the few that 4WD people can use, hence we’ve had more than our fair share over the years. I don’t want to get into the rhetoric about naughty Queenslanders coming here being prime culprits, but do ask yourself: why are their local beaches closed to vehicles?
How can people seriously consider camera surveillance when what will be seen will be the resulting destruction? It will not prevent it. And talk about stretching Council’s resources (both staff and finances)! There’s better things our ratepayers’ money can be doing for the environment – like banning vehicles on all beaches, like regenerative plantings, like educating people about the precious nature of beaches.
And to those people who want to drive on the beach for recreation, be aware that health practitioners are encouraging us all to walk more. Forgo this advice? Your legs may fall off!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
