Media response - cars on beaches

Published on 27 August 2025

Enquiry - The Advertiser

I'm just chasing up a story around a question on notice put forward by Cr Yeomans relating to vehicles driving on beaches during the hours of darkness and the potential installation of boom gates at this month's meeting.

Members of the community have raised safety and environmental concerns relating to vehicles driving along the beach during the hours of darkness.

The installation of boom gates with the intention of preventing vehicles accessing and driving along our beaches at night has been suggested by concerned members of the community.

• Would council be able to comment on whether residents have lodged any concerns about this with the council?
• If so, how many complaints/submissions has council received and what are the specific concerns residents have?
• How many fines has council issued to vehicle owners who have breached the rules around vehicle access on the beach in the past year? 
• Does council believe current measures are sufficient for managing vehicle compliance on beaches?

Response

Comments attributed to Renee Mitchell, Director Planning

Vehicles have been permitted to drive on sections of the foreshore at Moana, Aldinga Beach, Sellicks Beach and Silver Sands since 1975.

Council’s By-law prohibits vehicles on the beach between midnight and 5.30am.

In addition, some areas are permanently excluded from vehicle access, and seasonal restrictions apply on a portion of Aldinga Beach between Dingo Road and Morgan Street from May to September each year.

We receive regular reports of vehicles in restricted areas, which are investigated by council Rangers.

In the last financial year, this resulted in 26 expiation notices being issued.

In terms of compliance, council does not record a separate category for late-night access.

Council regularly receives requests to review vehicle access on our beaches; however, we have only received one request in the last 12 months that specifically raised concerns with vehicles on the beach between midnight and 5.30am.

We encourage anyone who witnesses unsafe or inappropriate vehicle use on beaches to contact SA Police so the matter can be addressed promptly.

Council has previously investigated options to restrict vehicle access—most recently in 2020 and again in 2024.

On both occasions, council chose not to proceed with installing boom gates or bollards, instead strengthening compliance measures through updated signage, education, and increased ranger patrols.

Council’s current controls for vehicles on the foreshore strike a careful balance between beach access – particularly for those with disabilities and to address limited on-street car parking – and the risk of harm to the environment and beachgoers safety.

ENDS