Australia is a country blessed with beautiful beaches, but vehicle access to picturesque vistas causes considerable damage, which leads to calls to ban practice.
As reported by ABC NewsA study by the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) has discovered that 4×4’s “unambiguous serious and widespread damage” cause coastal dune ecosystems, where the main author says there is no “safe level” from the beach.
According to the main author of the study, Thomas Schlacher, all 253 dunes that were viewed were found from 20 international studies that were negatively influenced by vehicles.
“The hard sand has buried invertebrate animals in it, things like Pipis and Crabs, which are important fish food when the fish come in at high tide, especially at night,” said Professor Schlacher told ABC News.
“The 4x4s who run over them are actually crushing them.
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“Only one vehicle is needed to cause very, very serious consequences.
“That is a bit of a surprise because people often claim:” Oh, everything we have to do is regulate the volume of traffic and we will be right “.
“The only thing that works is to get the cars out for considerable proportions of the beach … at least half – that is a good starting point.”
There are several beaches in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and West -Australia where vehicles have access. Depending on the beach, fines can request for motorists who are caught driving on dunes or disturbing turtles.
Driving on the beach is not allowed in Victoria, while South Australia tightens its laws – although the festival state says that it is “not intended to ban all vehicles” on all its beaches, and instead “is dedicated to take care of it [the] The coastline remains sustainable ”.
According to Professor Schlacher, Queensland-where driving under the sand is allowed in popular beach places such as North Shore, Rainbow Beach, K’Gari and Bribie Island-Is the best proof of the damage caused.
“Southeast Queensland probably has the world’s only strongest proof of proof of serious damage caused by 4x4S,” he said.
“So we are in principle on the driver’s seat, here to make sensible decisions.”
The results of the research are not surprising for those who spend a lot of time in the area, such as Bribie Island National Park Conservation Team -member Darren Jew.
Mr Jew told ABC News The enormous number of vehicles that are often on Bribl Island can cause chaos and be devastating for local animals in the wild at certain times of the year.
“Bribie hardly has a beach at high tide … so it’s chaos. It is sometimes the wild west above,” said Mr. Jew.
“There can be 1200 vehicles on the beach in one day, and that is ridiculous. It is just like a Woolies parking garage.
‘We have had [loggerhead turtle] Nests that were laid in the dunes for a month or so in relatively safe positions, run over by illegal dune.
“We have small hatchlings trying to get from nest to ocean, and the traces made by four -wheel drives … will be a barrier for them.
“Instead of going to the ocean, maybe a trip of 50 meters, they go north or south 500 meters in a rut and die from dehydration.”
Although a potential ban or limitation on driving on the beach can influence autoclubs around the activity, said Brett Lynch – President of the Bundaberg 4WD Club – that members receive training to reduce damage and that 4x4s can help offer a community service.
“The association does a clearance there [K’gari] Every year, where we generally collect six to eight tons of waste, “Mr. Lynch said ABC News.
“That kind of work that you can’t do without a 4 × 4 to get that kind of waste from the area to help protect it.”
The environment of Queensland, the Minister of Tourism, Science and Innovation, Andrew Powell, said that forbidding 4x4s from the beaches of the State would not be acceptable for some.
“My job is to ensure that we find the balance between the preservation and protection of the environment and allowing people to go outside and enjoy it,” said Minister Powell in comments by ABC News.
“I appreciate many, they would like to see four -wheel drives from the beaches, but I can’t see that as a solution that would be acceptable.”
Further north in Mackay, the city council further limited the beach access for motorists last September.
Driving is no longer allowed on the coast and the beach on Land -controlled Land from Harbor Beach to East Point, with cameras installed to check the area and those who ignore the rule that use a fine of $ 774.
“Over time, vehicles have caused considerable damage to the foredune, which influence the coastal flora and fauna, and turtle and shorebird nest places,” said Mayor Greg Williamson.
“The impact of that damage for many years threatens the ecological integrity of this area.”
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