It has come to my attention that at the next Ballina Council meeting on Thursday, November 23, there will be a motion brought forward to again discuss/alter the present status of the [currently prohibited] South Ballina Beach 4WD access.
The decision to ban 4WDs from this beautiful and, unfortunately, one of the few remaining beaches which you can visit in this area without 4WDs, is yet again up for discussion.
I would urge anyone who has an interest in keeping the South Ballina Beach free of 4WDs, to read the Ballina Shire Council agenda for the next meeting on their website, where it will be available this Friday, and to let their concerns be known to all councillors by email.
It is important that this beach remains without 4WD access, to protect the endangered pied oyster catcher and beach stone curlew. Evidence from National Parks and Wildlife Service suggests that the numbers of these species have more than doubled since the closure of the beach to 4WDs.
On the other hand, the arguments concerning the effective management of 4WD access to the beach and the environment through boom gates, cameras, etc. with extra rangers to manage it, and that income from permits and fines would cover this cost, are highly doubtful.
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. 
