Time to act to save beaches

OUR beach paradises north of Cairns are in danger of being ruined.

Not by developers but by illegal campers who treat these oncepristine sections of the coastline as toilets and rubbish tips.

It has reached a head at Buchan Point, just north of the infamous nude section of beach, at the second carpark.

Not only have caravans and campervans been parked up but now tents have been set up on the sand dunes and in among the trees.

With no toilet or shower facilities or rubbish bins, the squatters have been doing their business in the bushes and leaving telltale signs of used toilet paper.

Rubbish from their boozy parties is piled up and their behaviour is less than exemplary.

There are three issues: illegal camping, unhygienic conditions and fires being lit.

No one in authority has had the guts to move them on and reinstate the area to its former natural glory.

Cairns Regional Council, the State Government and the police know about the grubby problem, which has been embroiled tightly in red tape and nothing has been done.

To date, Cr Brett Olds, Barron River MP Craig Crawford, Police Minister Mark Ryan and Transport Minister Mark Bailey have been involved, but the issue keeps going around in circles.

Main Roads and Transport say it is a complex problem, but surely installing signs that declare camping there is illegal and enforcement by the police will fix it?

But it doesn’t seem to be that easy.

Well, the problem is not going away. Will someone please make a decision and act accordingly?

Nick Dalton Deputy editor