Capel beach access Petition

PETITION Help Protect Peppermint Grove Beach Prohibition of Vehicle Access (Northern Beach via Barndi Walk, Southern Beach via Hardy Terrace) 

We, the residents of Peppermint Grove Beach, request that the Shire of Capel remove all public vehicle access to the northern section via Barndi Walk and the southern section via Hardy Terrace, allowing only pedestrian, Shire-authorised, or emergency vehicle access.

This action is necessary due to the ongoing and unsustainable damage to the dunes and beach ecosystem caused by increasing irresponsible, uncontrolled, and unrestricted vehicle use, which has now escalated to alarming levels. It is also required because of the safety risks posed to pedestrians, children, and animals on the beach. In addition, the volume of traffic on Peppermint Grove Beach Roads, generated exclusively by vehicles accessing the beach, often involves unsafe and dangerous driving behaviour.

This request is consistent with the Shire’s Coastal Hazard Risk Management & Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP) and the Peppermint Grove Beach Geotechnical Report, which highlight the fragility of the dunes, the need for dune protection, and the importance of managing public access for environmental and safety reasons. We respectfully request that the Council: 

1. Remove all public vehicle access to these areas. 

2. Install robust and durable signage, bollards, and fencing to protect the dunes and beach. 

3. Monitor and strongly enforce compliance through Shire Rangers. 

4. Undertake a study, in consultation with local residents, to assess the need for further restrictions to northern beach areas.”