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Protecting Bribie Island NP's Ocean Beach
About this issue
Unfettered recreational vehicle access to Ocean Beach is inconsistent with protecting the conservation values of both the Bribie Island National Park and the Moreton Bay Marine Park, and is at odds with the beach's recognition as a Wetland of International Significance under the Ramsar Treaty. On peak days there can be thousands of 4WD vehicle movements on a 21km stretch of Bribie Island National Park's Ocean Beach. Over-use negatively impacts the ecological health of the inter-tidal zone and adjacent wetlands, deters seabirds and shorebirds, disrupts the nesting activity of critically endangered marine turtles, and modifies the natural processes of protective dune formation.
Peak visitation days; endangered beach stone-curlew; high tide driving; vehicles damaging dunes; turtle hatchlings trapped in ruts; impacts on wetlands.
How it impacts our mission
How beach traffic affects all aspects of BIEPA's mission:
Wildlife - Bribie Island is a rookery for critically endangered loggerhead turtles. Laying cycles are disrupted by night-time driving, and hatchlings making their dash from nest to ocean are put at increased risk of exhaustion and predation by the effects of disorientation from lights, and by barriers created by vehicle ruts. Threatened seabirds and shorebirds are deterred from this otherwise prime habitat by traffic. The littoral zone beach ecology is impacted through compaction and pollution.
Flora - vehicles driving on dunes damages stabilising vegetation, and driving near the foredunes stops these plants from establishing. This limits expansion in the dune's natural growth phase, causing persistent coastline neutrality or retreat, that in turn sees erosion encroach further into the coastal habitat. The adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are "widespread, substantial, and long-lasting" as evidenced in a recent analysis published by prominent researchers .
Environment - littering, waste disposal and bush-toileting effects balance in native species populations, and encourages and fuels feral pig and fox populations that are attracted to waste left at visitor sites. Large volumes of plastic are left behind by visitors, which enters the environment and contributes to the devastating effect of micro-plastic pollution.
Sustainability - the ecological damage inflicted by high volumes of 4WD traffic on Bribie Island's protected areas is inconsistent with BIEPA's vision of a prosperous, equitable, nature-based tourism future for Bribie Island, which should include low-impact access to park features for a broader section of the community, than just those who own 4WDs.
Community - the beach attracts large numbers of hoons, who act illegally on the beach endangering lives. Local residents have to endure traffic jams, noise & air pollution, and bear the brunt of associated illegal hooning on local streets.
What we are doing about it
BIEPA is advocating strongly for the adoption of practical measures that will begin to reduce impacts on the conservation values of the National Park. Many of these measures have been recommended in the Government's own report, the Bribie Island Sustainable Visitor Capacity Management Study, completed in 2022 and released publicly in May 2024.
BIEPA acknowledges Queenslander's historic ties to beach driving. BIEPA also sees that the nature of Bribie Island’s Ocean Beach will continue to be degraded while recreational vehicles are permitted access in increasing numbers. In the absence of a total ban on vehicles, BIEPA calls on all current and future State Governments to deliver a strict management regime that significantly reduces the current level of impact. Bribie Island National Park must be managed to protect its natural and cultural values. High numbers of recreational vehicles travelling in ecologically sensitive areas, and at times that disrupt the breeding habits of threatened species should not be allowed to diminish these values.
The following principles broadly reflect BIEPA’s position in response to the State Government’s Bribie Island National Park and Recreation Area: Sustainable Visitor Capacity and Management Study.
BIEPA’s position is endorsed by the State’s peak conservation body, the Queensland Conservation Council.
Cap daily vehicle numbers caps have successfully been implemented during the Covid-19 Pandemic as a guide. Based on the data provided in the sustainable Visitor Capacity study, caps would only effect approximately 20 days per year.
Use the permitting system to manage demand on high visitation days. Options might include: Removing the 20 Peak Visitation Days from yearly permits, and implementing a seperate daily permit lottery for those 20 days; removal of annual permits, offering day permits and camping permits only; or a requirement for all permit holders to simply book their day visit.
Allow only dawn to dusk driving during turtle nesting season (November to April) except for emergencies and authorised park management functions.
Allow hard sand driving only, with the beach closed to traffic 2 hours either side of high tide. Install boom gates at access track entrances to enforce compliance.
Introduce simple on-line training and assessment during the permit application process, covering driver behaviour, ecology and wildlife awareness.
Implement enhanced and innovative strategies to police illegal activities, both on the beach and on associated access routes. Introduce drone patrols to enforce laws and regulations on the beach.
Encourage and foster recreational opportunities that are in keeping with National Park values, and ensure equitable visitor access.
Introduce an active education program that engenders a high level of community respect for the National Park, including a regular newsletter to all permit holders.
Ensure any future Management Plan incorporates Adaptive Management Principles that will continue to enhance visitor experience, improve protections and reduce ecological impacts on the Bribie Island National Park, Moreton Bay Marine Park and the Ramsar-listed Wetlands; and develop and promote alternative, low-impact visitor activities in the Bribie Island National Park. Plan and develop new access routes to manage traffic flows, provide for enhanced protections and improved access for visitors to the Bribie Island National Park.
This documented will be updated from time-to-time as the result of stakeholder engagement.
First published May 2024
Updated February 2025
Updated March 2025
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