All hands required on deck to manage beach
The successful management of vehicles on Cowley Beach will require high levels of cooperation between the Cassowary Coast Regional Council and the range of state government agencies which also have legislative responsibilities for the beach.
The Cowley Beach Vehicle Management Advisory Committee met last week (17th June) in Innisfail to “get to grips” with the plethora of legislation and state acts that would affect any decisions relating to vehicle use on the beach, said Committee Chair, Councillor Jennifer Downs.
The list includes:
- State Coastal Management Plan – Queensland Coastal Policy
- Wet Tropical Coast Regional Coastal Management Plan
- Marine Parks Regulation 2006
- Transport Operations – Road Use Management Act 1995
“Once the group started to define the legislative framework, it was apparent that the difficulty is that any one management agency cannot act in isolation,” Cr. Downs said.
“The Cassowary Coast Regional Council is responsible for the management of beaches above the high water mark (dependent on location), while state government agencies manage below the high water mark.”
A number of people attended the second meeting of the Advisory Committee, including representatives of the Traditional Owners, the MaMu people, and the Federal Department of Defence – both major stakeholders in the outcome of any decisions relating to vehicle management on Cowley Beach.
The Advisory Committee will next meet in the Department of Defence boardroom at Cowley Beach on 14 July at 9.30 am. The meeting will include a site inspection of the beach.