Ballina Shire Council’s public comment period regarding 4WDs on Seven Mile Beach closed over a month ago, but the issue isn’t going away, with a seminar to be held at the Lennox Hotel on Monday already booked out.
Recently, 4WDs on beaches have been in the news for all the wrong reasons across NSW, with a group of turtle hatchlings near Hawks Nest yesterday having to be carried over 4WD tracks to the water by volunteers, and a runaway horse being struck and killed by a 4WD driven by a P plater on Airforce Beach, north of Evans Head, earlier this month.
This comes after ongoing reported incidents of serious hooning behaviour on Seven Mile Beach, especially over Easter.
Critical conversation
Monday night’s Critical Conversation seminar event is being organised by Ballina Cr Kiri Dicker, and will examine the impact of 4WDs on beach ecosystems
Panellists will include Dr Thomas Schlacher, Professor of Marine Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and environmental advocate Megan Ward, who successfully campaigned to close South Ballina Beach to 4WDs in 2021.
Cr Dicker describes Cr Schlacher as a global expert in how sandy beach ecosystems work, and how they can be conserved for future generations.
‘The focus of his research is on the environmental effects of human activities, and the strategies that are more effective in conserving vulnerable and irreplaceable features of the natural environment,’ said Cr Dicker.
She said the critical conversation about the future of 4WDs on local beaches will ask:
- what is the impact of 4WDs on beach ecosystems?
- is there a sustainable threshold for vehicles on beaches?
- what strategies have been successful in affecting policy reform?
- how can we craft an effective narrative for beach conservation?
The discussion will be followed by questions. Although the event is already fully subscribed, you can add your name to the waiting list here: https://www.kiridicker.com/4wdseminar.
The Echo will also be reporting on the seminar.
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