Voice of Byron regular, Rosie Lee, shared this press release from National Parks & Wildlife.
THE NATIONAL Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is continuing to step up patrols and call for information in an effort to curb illegal beach parties following another destructive illegal party in the Cosy Corner area of Cape Byron State Conservation Area.
NPWS Area Manager Sue Walker said Cosy Corner and Tallow Beach carpark was a mess on Sunday morning with rubbish, broken glass, human excrement and illegal camping, all damaging the environment. This greatly impacted on the approved community Byron Bay Boardriders surfing event.
“The safety of park visitors is paramount to NPWS, and illegal activities compromising people’s safety will not be tolerated,” said Sue Walker.
“Visitors are asked to report all illegal activities and anti-social behaviour seen in the park to the NPWS office or local police.
“Details of vehicles or descriptions of people involved in these activities can be made confidentially and all reports will be investigated.
“The NPWS staff and the Police were busy on Sunday morning dealing with this illegal party. Cleaning up the rubbish and human excrement after illegal parties places an unnecessary drain on staff resources.
“Beach parties, camping, alcohol, littering and fires in a National Park is illegal under the National Parks and Wildlife Act and poses fines. NPWS has previously fined organisers and is progressing prosecution for previous illegal parties at Tallow Creek. Early morning and late afternoon compliance patrols will continue and fines for illegal activities including dogs in park will be actioned.
“In these cases the illegal parties have not only harmed the environment but also presented a health and safety risk to park users.
“Cape Byron State Conservation Area and Arakwal National Park were created as part of a Native Title agreement between the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Arakwal people and the NSW Government and has enormous cultural significance to the local Aboriginal community. They are also special places for our wildlife and are a great place to enjoy the beach and the beautiful environment.
“Illegal parties and those vandalising the park disrupt the tranquil nature of these areas and it’s the last thing the local community and visitors want to see or hear.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact NPWS on 6620 9300 or police in the interests of the entire community,” Ms Walker said.
“Illegal” beach parties. This place has gone made with over regulation. I’m surprised they allow us to sneeze on the beach – all those nasty germs. As for the environment & dogs – it’s all regrowth and the turkeys are still there despite the thousands of dogs over the last 100 years that have been in that scrub including my own dogs in the 70s.. The blow-ins from NPWS should have a look at the old photos of the sand mining and how most of the headland had been stripped of trees. I agree broken bottles & rubbish are a problem and they should fine people heavily for that when they can catch them. But it’d probably be easier to spend some money on cleaning up the mess instead of employing fun police, sorry, “wardens”.
i had to read this comment twice to believe what i am reading!
a logical comment that doesnt jump on the illegal whatever train lets book everyone, and employs logic to think instead of dumbly react? how un-Australian