By JONATHON HOWARD
A HANDFUL of Sunshine Beach residents have been ploughing their way through the sand dunes to access the beach.
Noosa Council has moved to protect the fragile foreshore dunes after complaints were lodged with council.
Council letters have now been sent to 11 property owners about the unauthorised structures which were constructed on public land, according to council.
Mayor Noel Playford said the council wants to deal with the issue sensibly and have a conversation with each property owner about what may or may not need to be done.
“But in the end there has to be a process in place for the sake of this fragile environment,” he said.
“In some cases excavation and building of stairs has occurred on very steep slopes which could result in serious erosion during heavy rainfall. Erosion of sand dune areas has cost ratepayers dearly in the past.”
Mr Playford said that, apart from environmental concerns, there are public liability issues, as the structures have been built on crown land that’s being administered by the council.
A Noosa Council press release said failing to take action would leave council liable in negligence in the event of injury.
Mayor Playford said each case will be looked at individually, with the council working with property owners to try to balance the issues of beach access, environmental sensitivity, and public safety.
The former Noosa Council and, more recently, the Sunshine Coast Council, have dealt with similar cases of property owners building unauthorised structures to access the beach.
“There’s nothing new about the temptation to build your own path through the dunes, but this is environmentally sensitive, public land, and it’s the council’s role to protect it for future generations,” Mayor Playford said.
Noosa Council can send out infringement notices and prosecute offenders, but Mayor Playford said he hoped the issue could be resolved amicably without the need for further council action.
Have your say: Do you know a secret track through the dunes which could damage vital ecosystems? Send us your views and letters to newsdesk@noosatoday.net.au
