Council cans beach access improvement for fear of making issue worse

A BEATEN access road to a popular local beachside Hinchinbrook holiday spot will not get a council makeover in a bid to deter Townsville interlopers from engaging in “anti-social behaviours”.

The Hinchinbrook Shire Council voted unanimously to reject a request by the Crystal Creek Hut Owners Association to upgrade the access road, erect traffic signs and install traffic counters and security cameras. The 7-0 vote followed a report to the council by James Stewart, director of infrastructure and utility services, who advised against the application, estimated to cost the council an additional $10,000 a year.

“On the basis that there is already significant expenditure and resources being provided to maintain Barrilgie Road and that the risk of council undertaking regular maintenance to the camping reserve access track may result in even further increased traffic and antisocial behaviour in the area.”

There are about 22 huts built on council-owned recreational reserve, linked to Barrilgie Road by goat tracks wide enough for a vehicle.

Mayor Ramon Jayo told the Townsville Bulletin there had been a spike in camping traffic following the closure of “beach-access and other recreation areas further south outside of our jurisdiction”.

“Council considered it and went back to the source document, the agreement with the hut owners, and the agreement is that the council is not responsible for any further or better access,” he said.

“The council also felt that if the road into that area was improved it would just make the situation even more intolerable for what the hut owners are experiencing now.”

Cr Jayo said the increased traffic was damaging the access roads, with outsiders destroying native trees and camping illegally on the beaches.

He said he understood the outsiders were from Townsville given the Townsville side of the area had been closed due to grazing activity.