Stockton Beach Feedback

Yes, I don't mind paying the fee. But what do we get for it. The place is completely unsupervised and regularly frequented by morons. I was on the beach last weekend and there were at least 30 vehicles parked between the northern access and the surfing area at Birubi. AND, probably 1000 people on that stretch of beach. The area is clearly signposted as a no-go area for vehicles and the danger to beach goers is immense. But the " that doesn't refer to me" syndrome comes across loud and clear. It seems that for some people as soon as they get on the sand common sense goes out the window. You regularly see vehicles on the hard stuff doing 80-90k's and kids sitting on window sills or in the backs of utes at that speed. I've even seen idiots towing kids on skid boards through the shallow water. And bear in mind ALL of these vehicles are 4WD's.
There, I've had my whinge.

tessa

It sure was supervised a couple of weekend ago, they had rangers at either entrance check things and handed out fines for all sorts of things including an annual pass that was one day overdue!

I think given time they will sort it out, but lets not forget they have an uphill battle as there are an awful lot of people pushing the limits of what is considered fair & reasonable behaviour, and they could include your neighbour, your mate, a work college or even your kids.

wdric
Good to hear that there is some sort of supervision. I live at Port Stephens and am fairly regularly out on the beach. I have never seen a ranger. Maybe change is in the air. Would be nice to see the boys in blue out there with their radar guns as I believe they do on Fraser Island. When you say rangers, were they Council or NPWS, or some other organisation? I understand the beach is now actually aboriginal land, but is supervised on their behalf by NPWS.

tessa

NPWS Rangers there
Also a fisheries officer doing the rounds.

I think the beach has different areas of ownership, between port stephens council, the aboriginals and NPWS

NPWS have been given management responability.

I think you will also find the bikes & buggy are only allowed to be south of lavis lane entry.

Along with the snowy, I believe these are the only two parks where your annual NPWS pass don't work.

http://www.portstephens.org.au/webpages.asp?code=1099&style=False

And a little plug
http://www.oot4wd.com.au/images/Open%20Beach%20Day.jpg

I was also up there a couple of weekends ago and bought the annual pass. :)

The road in from Lavis Lane has been graded and fencing has been put up to keep vehicles on the track and out of the scrub.
There is now also a separate beach entry track for ATV's.

That's all been done since we did the annual cleanup in October.

There must have been an increase in the price of sand and they are passing it on !!! Michael

In reference to your garbage reply( rubbish that is ) - i was chatting to the NWPS guy ,And he told me that they no longer put the large bins at either end of the beach as it was always just filled up with industrial rubbish and old tires. He then also told me that they used to hand out rubbish bags to people on the beach in an attempt to get them to take there rubbish with them , and guess what - they used the bags but just left them on the beach - some even left the empty bags on the beach next to there rubbish ... I am disgusted by this behavior as i am sure many of you are -- I myself actually have one of those really large canvas bags you put over your spare tires on the back of your 4x4 - so if i leave a camp site ( with all my rubbish In the bag ) and i still have space - i then collect other peoples rubbish from where i was camping and also take it with me ..

This is what i show the kids in the hope they will learn and not make the same stupid mistakes we have .....

And another good point --- excessive speed on the beach .... its a 40 k zone --- and i have seen big speeds on the beach .. One dimwad actually Insisted on going between us and the water ( 5 meter or so ) rather than using the upper part of the beach and having at least 50 meters of space ???? i had 2 x 4 year olds with me , but this clown didn't seam to care.

Must admit there are more idiots and inconsiderate people at the anna bay end rather than the Levis lane end , but i guess thats because any pretend 4x4 can get in on anna bay end as the sand is firm ....

Boc

Certainly available at the Lavis Lane Servo and I'm pretty sure Birubi CP and the servo at Anna Bay.

There is a list down the bottom for permits here
Port Stephens council Stockton beach page

If you see a heap of 4wd's with ARB or Out Of Town 4WD on them come and say G'day.
read here:
http://www.oot4wd.com.au/images/Open%20Beach%20Day.jpg

I will be in an NM pajero (if it is windy I will be kitesurfing:) )

Ric
PS I assume you know to let your tyres down, around 18psi is a good start (depending on your vehicle & tyres)