Council confirms position on Southern Beaches vehicle access
Published on 09 April 2026
Livingstone Shire Council has confirmed its position on recreational vehicle access across two Southern Beaches, following an extensive period of community consultation in late 2024, technical assessments and Council workshops.
At this week’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Council resolved to maintain existing Local Law settings at Long Beach, keeping the area closed to general vehicular access.
The matter of access arrangements at Timbers Beach was laid on the table, with Council agreeing that further discussions are required with the relevant property owner before any final position is determined.
Council also confirmed that Ritamada Beach will continue to allow restricted access for vessel launching and retrieval only, with improved signage to be installed.
Mayor Adam Belot said the outcomes reflect a thorough and considered process that began in 2024 and included significant community input.
“First and foremost, I want to thank our community for their patience—this process has been a long time coming,” Mayor Belot said.
“Our community made a strong investment in the consultation process, and in response, Council officers have undertaken a very thorough and detailed review.
“We’ve taken a thoughtful and cautious approach to ensure we balance community expectations with safety, environmental protection and long-term sustainability.
“I don’t want to see our recreational options going backwards, and importantly Council has stood firm to maintain access in line with the 2011 Local Laws.”
“This means launching and retrieving vessels at Ritamada Beach will continue to be permitted, with no changes to Long Beach, which remains closed to vehicles.
“Access to Timbers Beach, along with Musker’s Beach, will be subject to further consideration as we work through the appropriate legal access pathways, including the land acquisition process currently underway.”
Development and Environment Portfolio Co-lead Deputy Mayor Pat Eastwood said the decisions and interim positions align with Council’s responsibility to protect the region’s natural assets while ensuring public safety.
“These beaches are dynamic coastal environments, and in some cases, highly sensitive ecological areas that support important shorebird habitats and coastal processes,” he said.
“We also need to be realistic about safety. Many of these locations present challenging driving conditions, increasing the risk of vehicles becoming bogged and limiting emergency access.”
Council’s review considered a range of factors including environmental values, safety risks, access constraints, legal considerations and financial implications.
Opening Long Beach to vehicles, for example, would require significant upgrades to the access track, with preliminary estimates exceeding $1 million—funding which is not currently budgeted.
At Timbers Beach, Council identified that informal access routes traverse private property and environmentally sensitive dune systems, reinforcing the need for further engagement with the landowner before any future consideration of access.
Conditions at Ritamada Beach highlighted ongoing compliance challenges, with 69 infringements issued in 2025 alone.
Council will now proceed with installing regulatory and directional signage to support compliance with Local Laws and improve community awareness of permitted access arrangements where decisions have been confirmed.
Mayor Belot said Council would continue working constructively with landowners and relevant stakeholders to explore opportunities to improve legal pedestrian access to the Southern Beaches, and to progress discussions regarding Timbers Beach.
“This is about getting the balance right, protecting what makes our coastline special while ensuring our community can continue to enjoy it safely and responsibly,” he said.
“Today’s outcomes provide clarity where decisions have been made, while allowing appropriate time and dialogue to continue where further work is required.”
Key outcomes
• Long Beach will remain closed to general vehicle access due to safety risks, environmental significance and the condition of the existing informal access track.
• Timbers Beach access arrangements remain under consideration, with the matter laid on the table to allow further discussions with the private property owner regarding potential legal access options.
• Ritamada Beach will continue to permit restricted vehicle access for boat launching and retrieval only, with additional signage to clearly define access and parking arrangements.