Calls for rule change as Aussie beach problem spirals out of control: 'Cannot continue'
One of the world's leading beach ecology experts has again renewed the push to limit the number of four-wheel drives allowed on Australian beaches, warning that the growing popularity of camping and 4WD activity is contributing to irreversible harm along fragile shorelines.
It's a beloved pastime for thousands around the country, with many arguing it's a cost-effective way to spend a weekend and a chance to unwind and enjoy family time outside of their regular, busy schedules. But according to research conducted by the University of the Sunshine Coast's Thomas Schlacher, driving along the shore and on dunes has a huge ripple effect on the countless organisms that rely on them.
Earlier this year, Schlacher published a comprehensive analysis of the ecological consequences of off-road vehicle (ORV) use on coastal dune ecosystems. Collating data from 443 records across 253 species, it highlighted the extensive and statistically significant negative impacts of ORVs on dune vegetation.
Released in March, the study found that even minimal ORV traffic, such as one or two vehicles, can cause serious ecological harm, indicating that there may be no safe threshold in these sensitive environments. In particular, off-road vehicles compact sand, destroy vegetation, and can crush nests, posing serious threats to marine organisms like turtles that rely on undisturbed dunes for nesting. The disruption of these habitats can reduce hatchling survival and alter coastal ecosystems.
It's something Jan Waters from Cooloola Coast Turtle Care recently spoke to Yahoo about. Based on the Sunshine Coast, she warned Aussies of the serious consequences of beach driving. "The hatchlings have to cross the deep 4WD tracks to reach the ocean [and] the tracks, created ... on the beach close to the dunes at high tide, are 25cm deep and 25cm wide," Waters told Yahoo.
"The small hatchlings are only five centimetres, and once they're caught in the tracks, they will most likely perish." Waters encouraged drivers to travel on the hard, wet sand to ensure they leave behind no ruts. According to Schlacher's study, there's still no "safe level" of beach driving.
Despite this, he's still not an advocate for a total ban on beach four-wheel driving, but he is now calling for the practice to be more strictly monitored. "There is no such thing as a trip down a beach, in a vehicle, that doesn't have some form of impact," Schlacher told The Project.
In Australia, more than 90 per cent of the country's beaches allow cars on the sand, including in national parks, with Victoria the only state to outlaw the move. In South Africa, it's been banned for two decades.
In Queensland, at least one popular tourist beach reported attracting an incredible 2000 cars in a day.
"We created national parks to protect nature," Schlacher argued, adding that he'd like to see "some sections", at the very least, reserved for only emergency vehicles.
Advocates for 4WD access on beaches often argue that it supports recreation, tourism, and local economies, particularly in coastal towns where off-road driving is a long-standing cultural pastime.
Many believe that, when done responsibly, 4WDing allows people to enjoy remote natural areas without causing lasting harm. Supporters also contend that with proper regulation, such as designated driving zones, seasonal restrictions, and education on environmental sensitivity, beach driving can coexist with conservation goals. Brett Lynch of the Bundaberg 4WD Club is a major supporter and said that it's a minority of misbehavers ruining it for everyone.
Lynch said the activity is one of the most important memories he has of his late father. "My fondest memories growing up with my parents are camping. My father passed away last year; that's all I have of him now is that," he told The Project.
"Being able to share that with my kids, it just helps them have those memories and keeps those memories alive." While acknowledging the cultural significance of four-wheel driving and camping on our beaches, Schlacher said some middle ground must be found.
Calls grow for total 4WD ban on Australian beaches
Drivers banned from popular 4WD beach after reckless act
4WD owners warned as tourist beach braces for imminent phenomenon
"I'm not an advocate or a proponent for a blanket ban — never. But we cannot actually continue [at this rate], which jeopardises what all of our kids want to enjoy in decades to come," he said. "We've got an incredible moral obligation to pass on ecosystems, and not dead piles of sand."
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