UPDATE: A shocking $4,502 fine issued to a driver at Teewah Beach has ignited urgent calls for enhanced safety measures at one of Queensland’s most popular 4WD and camping destinations. With a string of dangerous incidents reported, locals are demanding immediate government action to protect both visitors and wildlife.
During peak periods, Teewah Beach, located at the northern end of the Noosa North Shore, becomes a bustling hotspot for campers and four-wheel drivers. However, the area is increasingly notorious for unsafe driving practices, particularly speeding. Recent reports confirm vehicles have been clocked at speeds exceeding 110 km/h, posing a grave risk to families and endangered wildlife, including green turtle nests.
Independent MP Sandy Bolton has voiced her concerns, stating that the current situation is untenable. “The stretch of beach where these fines were issued is a place where people are sunbaking, children are playing, and turtle hatchlings are making their way to the ocean,” Bolton told Yahoo News Australia. She urges the state government to implement interim measures before the finalization of the Cooloola Recreation Area Management Plan (CRAMP), which was first drafted in May 2024 but lacks a timeline for completion.
Between September 19-22, police enforcement ramped up significantly, with Highway Patrol officers issuing a total of 126 fines along the coastline from Noosa to Rainbow Beach. Among these was the staggering fine of $4,502 for a 22-year-old driver whose passengers were not wearing seatbelts. This driver also faced additional charges for drug driving and driving a defective vehicle.
Bolton confirmed that police patrols will continue through the school holidays, with plans to extend enforcement into the Christmas period. “Better long-term management and resources from the state government are what is needed,” she stated, emphasizing the community’s long-standing concerns over unsafe behavior on Teewah Beach.
Community feedback has spurred discussions around several proposals, including sectional closures during turtle nesting, speed limit reductions, and stricter compliance measures. Bolton stressed the urgent need for action: “We need action now to protect both visitors and wildlife while the long-term plan is completed.”
As calls for stronger control measures grow louder, residents and holiday-goers remain on high alert. With the summer holiday season approaching, the pressure on authorities to act decisively is increasing.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing situation, and join the conversation on social media to ensure the safety of our beaches.
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