Councillors explore scooter ban
POWERED scooters could be banned from beaches and boardwalks as the Gold Coast City Council gets tough on hoons speeding near pedestrians.
Councillors bombarded with complaints from residents fear a fatality will occur as the electric scooters become a favoured means of transport around the congested Glitter Strip.
At full council yesterday councillors supported a motion calling for a report to be brought forward on powered bicycles and vehicles “travelling at speeds in pedestrian areas”.
The report would consider the powers available to the State Government and the council, and determine what bans could be put in place.
Before the vote was taken, Mayor Tom Tate produced a photograph taken of scooters on the beach.
Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, outside the meeting, told the Bulletin: “The Mayor brought forward a general business item this morning because he has grave concerns about motorised vehicles being on our beaches.
“So we will get a report back and at the Mayor’s suggestion we’ll see how we can stop any danger to the community.”
Cr Gates said the council had localised laws relating to beaches which would enable it to police motorised scooters. Emergency vehicles and mobility scooters would still have access.
Surfers Paradise city councillor Gary Baildon said he was receiving constant complaints about electric driven bicycles along pathways.
“From what I’m told it’s an argument between a couple of the different departments within the State Government,” Cr Baildon said. “We’ve writ- ten to the State about it. At this stage nothing has happened. We’ve made complaints to the local members of Parliament. Nothing happened again.
“I get the phone calls from the anxious parents. They say my child nearly got killed out there. And yet the Government does nothing about it. I’m really upset about it.”
Cr Baildon was not aware that council could introduce a by-law and believed the registration issue meant the policing of the bikes was a Government responsibility.
“I’m asking the State, for goodness sake do your job and lets sort this out.”