Beach driving will remain restricted to daylight hours during turtle season in Moore Park Beach following the successful trial of night-time vehicle access closure.
The decision to trial the limited beach access came after Bundaberg Regional Council received requests from community members concerned about the safety of turtle nests and turtle monitoring volunteers.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said the trial, conducted within the 2023-2024 turtle nesting season, had yielded positive results prompting Council’s decision to limit vehicle access to Moore Park Beach during turtle season on an ongoing basis.
“We had a huge response to the initial survey with about half of the respondents living in Moore Park Beach itself and 76% of people said they were in favour of the night-time closure of vehicle access,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“During the trial we set up traffic counters which revealed the Lassig Street beach access averaged 242 daytime vehicles and 35 night-time vehicles per month and the northern beach access averaged 360 daytime vehicles and 43 night-time vehicles per month.
“While we don’t have any data from before the trial to compare this to, the results clearly show the vast majority of drivers are keeping off the beaches at night while continuing to enjoy this beautiful area of our coastline during daylight hours.
“And of course this restriction only applies during turtle season, from 1 November to 31 March each year, with normal vehicle access permitted for the remainder of the year.”
Natural Resources and Environment portfolio spokesperson Cr Jason Bartels said the vehicle access closure to Moore Park Beach during turtle nesting season was an example of Council working collaboratively with the community.
“Moore Park Beach residents, and particularly the local turtle monitoring group, raised a number of concerns about night-time vehicle access to the beach in turtle season, from the safety of volunteers walking the beach at night to the impacts of headlights and tracks disturbing nesting turtles,” Cr Bartels said.
“We listened and implemented the trial, erecting signage at the two beach vehicle access points.
“The response from turtle volunteers has been very positive.
“They feel safer when out at night during turtle season and saw a big jump in turtle activity in the Moore Park Beach area.
“While we can’t categorically attribute this great result to the trial we can assume it’s having a positive impact.”
The night-time closure to driving on Moore Park Beach to all vehicles applies between dusk and dawn, during the marine turtle nesting season from 1 November to 31 March each year.
For tips on responsible beach driving and local beach driving locations, head to Council’s website.
