A QUEST to reduce vehicle access to the beach at Boatswain Point has failed after meeting stern opposition from permanent residents of the tiny coastal town.
A small group of Boatswain Point property owners petitioned Robe District Council to close some access tracks to the beach for environmental and accident risk reasons - singling out the track from Cape Thomas Dr to the beach - but a strong community response quashed the idea.
The request from Wayne and Lorraine Phillips and Matthew Walsh claimed vehicle tracks on the beach were the cause of environmental damage and were an accident risk to pedestrians and campers.
The Phillips said as part of their submission: "We are frequent visitors to Boatswain Point and regularly walk along the beach from Boatswain Point, over Guichen Rocks to the 4WD track at the western end of Long Beach (Robe).
"The 4WD track is signposted to direct vehicles from the beach to the main Boatswain Point Rd, but vehicles carry on and drive over the beach, cross the rocks and leave the beach at the southern end of the Boatswain Point beach or our boat ramp (causing damage to the base of the sand dunes).
"Our other concern is that the rocky cliffs are eroding and collapsing into the sea along the section often travelled by 4WD vehicles which park close to the edge of the cliffs.
"It is strongly suggested that this section of '4WD travel' be blocked off from both ends."
Boatswain Point resident Robert Roach spoke out at the November council meeting, outlining his objections to the proposal on behalf of other Boatswain Point residents.
Council received further objections to the proposal, including letters from residents and a petition, and at the first council meeting of 2012 last week, a number of permanent and holiday residents attended to argue why the existing beach access should be maintained.
Mr Roach told the meeting: "It has been a walking and four wheel drive track since the 50s and it is in better condition now than it ever was.
"A petition has been signed by various residents opposing the proposal.
"Although I have not spoken to all residents I have spoken to enough to give council a feel on what is to be done here."
Resident Chris Box said: "As far as I am concerned there has been no damage done in the past so why would there be any in the future?"
Resident Neville Jackson said: "If someone injures themselves on the beach there will need to be vehicle access to be able to get to them.
"There also needs to be vehicle access for disabled persons.
"These tracks can be seen at all beaches. The beach should be left accessible to vehicles."
Holiday resident Neil Nolan said: "More damage is done from people tracking up and down with their feet than vehicles going over it.
"This will create more havoc than vehicles. There is no harm being done to the track...vehicles on the track serve no threat at all."
After considering the proposal to close access and the comments made in support and opposition, the council decided to reject it.
But, CEO Bill Hender said council would improve signage at the vehicle access tracks to the beach to prevent vehicles from parking too close to the cliffs at Boatswain Point.
"Council decided although the proposal was well intentioned it did not have much support from locals as they didn't see a problem there.
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