A decision by Richmond Valley Council to formalise the Airforce Beach access point (north of Evans Head) with asphalt parking and four-wheel drive access has raised concerns with the Evans Head Residents for Sustainable Development group.
Representing the residents group, Dr Richard Gates, said in a statement that, ‘The Ballina Shire Council portion of the Evans Head to Ballina Beach has been closed for vehicle access for more than four years since 31 March 2021’.
‘The beach was closed “owing to ongoing concerns about public safety, impacts to the environment and Aboriginal heritage values” – www.crownland.nsw.gov.au/whats-happening/notifications/south-ballina-beach-closed-vehicle-access.
He says, ‘Despite widespread calls about the same safety, environmental and Aboriginal heritage issues for the southern portion of the beach, Richmond Valley Council has not only failed to close its section of the same beach to vehicles and repeat violations of the rules, but is about to “harden off” the Airforce Beach access point to the north of Evans Head making it easier for vehicles to get on and off the beach’.
‘At the last meeting on 16 September, Council decided behind closed doors, to accept a tender from Hannigan Civil Pty Ltd for $355,417.00 (exclusive of GST) for an “Airforce Beach Car Park and Access Improvements Project”.
‘The plans for the development were not included in the business papers for the meeting, and it was not immediately clear where the money was coming from for the project.
‘But Richmond Valley Council’s website indicates that “revitalisation of this popular area will create a more inviting and safe space for people to access Airforce Beach”, and will “feature a formalised asphalt parking area and improved four-wheel drive access track”. Mmm…sounds “safe” and “inviting”!
‘Residents who live in the area will be given “at least two weeks notice in advance of commencement of works” which will include “installation of articulated concrete block mats”, “two concrete aprons”, “a concrete footpath” and council’s ubiquitous “sandstone blocks” (for unspecified purpose(s)).
‘It is very clear that Council is not only thumbing its nose at local residents and their concerns about disruptive and unsafe 24 hour a day traffic to the beach, but also the environment, and importantly the safety of those using the beach. As far as we can determine, there is no risk or environmental assessment of the impact of the project on this largely unpatrolled beach’, he said.
Hoon behaviour
Dr Gates also said that the Council sign, ‘Respect Our Beach or it Will Be Closed To 4WDs’ is now partly ripped down.
‘There’s been a failure to respect the beach for years. Not only has nothing happened, but Council is now making it easier for the beach to be trashed and the environment to be put under huge pressure along with increased safety concerns’.
‘There was a compliance blitz over the long weekend by the Council Ranger, Police and NatIonal Parks staff. But EHRSDI witnessed numerous violations, including many dogs well past the “No Dogs” signs, speeding well over the 20kph limit along with hoon behaviour, and little concern for nesting and resting birds.
‘This is the nesting season for the endangered pied oystercatcher. There are only 200 nesting pairs in the state. We witnessed nesting birds being hassled by the 4WD traffic driving up into the dunes north of Salty Lakes.
‘The once thriving pipi population seems to have virtually disappeared (breeding season August to December) along with the once prolific ghost crabs. Night time vehicle convoys, which have increased recently, are part of problem as the crabs frequently scavenge at night and are crushed by them.
‘The beach is coping it from both the north and south and we see little or no policing by appropriate authorities.
‘Council admits it can’t look after what it has now yet it approves upgrading of 4WD access to the beach without an apparent risk or environmental assessment or capacity to police.
‘Sadly, it is only a matter of time before there is a human tragedy on top of the unfolding environmental Tragedy of the Commons, where self-interest is leading to a worse outcome for everyone. Council is literally destroying the natural environment which draws people to Evans Head all for the sake of accommodating 4WDs which are badly impacting the beach.
‘Time to close the beach to 4WDs and to invest the third of million dollars in cleaning up the legacy contamination in Salty Lagoon in Broadwater National Park created by Council and its dumping of effluent from the Sewerage Treatment Plant into the lake system. It is just up the beach from the Airforce Beach access point’, he added.
Questions
The Echo asked Richmond Valley Council, ‘Is there a risk or environmental assessment of the impact of the Airforce Beach Carpark and Access Construction project?
Also – ‘It appears the project is going ahead, despite neighbouring Ballina Council recognising the concerns about public safety, impacts to the environment and Aboriginal heritage values’.
‘How has Richmond Valley Council come to a different conclusion given it is a shared beach?’
A spokesperson replied, ‘Council is undertaking renewal work at Airforce Beach, including upgrades to the existing carpark and beach access. These improvements aim to enhance safety and reduce environmental impacts, particularly in the parking areas. A key focus of the project is to improve accessibility to the beach for people with disabilities’.
‘Following a competitive tender process, Council has awarded the construction contract to Hannigan Civil.
‘The project has been assessed and approved under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. As the works are classified as ‘permitted without development consent’, a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) was completed by specialist consultants. The REF considered all relevant safety, environmental, and heritage matters to ensure the project meets legislative requirements and community expectations’, they said.
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