Calls are mounting for stronger control measures at one of the country’s busiest 4WD beaches, after a string of dangerous incidents on the sand, leaving locals on edge.
The hotspots are among Queensland’s most popular destinations for both four-wheel driving and camping. Teewah Beach sits at the northern end of the Noosa North Shore, forming part of a long stretch of coastline used by locals and tourists alike.
During peak holiday periods, rows of campers and 4WDs line the sand. But while the beaches are celebrated for their natural beauty and recreational opportunities, the area has long been plagued by issues, including speeding, unsafe driving, and a lack of consistent management.
Teewah Beach is typically filled with cars on a sunny summer’s day. Source: Noosa Parks Association
Speeding remains the most serious problem, particularly with families and children sharing the beach. Vehicles have been recorded driving at more than 110 km/h, putting both people and wildlife at risk. The beaches are also home to endangered green turtle nests, and concerns have been raised that hatchlings could be crushed or disturbed by vehicles during nesting season.
Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton is urging the state government to act now, warning that lives — and the environment — are at risk.
“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.
“Further interim measures before the final Cooloola Recreation Area Management Plan (CRAMP) is completed would be welcomed, because these issues are long-standing and well known. The control measures in place are clearly not enough.”
What is the CRAMP?
CRAMP was first drafted in May 2024 and is intended to provide long-term solutions for safety, environmental protection, and vehicle access along Teewah and the wider Noosa North Shore. However, no timeline has been provided for its finalisation, leaving residents and holiday-goers exposed.
Police enforcement has already stepped up in response to the escalating risks. Between September 19-22, Highway Patrol officers patrolled the coastline from the tip of Noosa to Rainbow Beach, issuing 126 fines.
Among them, a 22-year-old driver was fined $4,502 after his passengers were caught not wearing seatbelts. He was also charged with drug driving, driving a defective vehicle, and failing to display P-plates. Two others were charged with drink driving.
Turtle hatchlings often get trapped and die in the deep ruts left by tyres at Teewah Beach on the Sunshine Coast. Source: Jan Waters/Facebook
Bolton confirmed officers will continue patrolling throughout the remainder of the school holidays and said she is pushing for operations to continue through Christmas. “Better long-term management and resources from the state government are what is needed,” she said
For years, residents, landowners, and recreational users have voiced concerns over unsafe behaviour on Teewah and the broader Noosa North Shore. Bolton said community feedback is being incorporated into ongoing planning.
Proposals under consideration include sectional closures during turtle nesting, speed reductions, increased compliance, better information sharing between agencies, and limits on Vehicle Access Permits until stronger management is in place. “We need action now to protect both visitors and wildlife while the long-term plan is completed,” Bolton said, stressing the urgent need for interim measures while the decades-long issues at the beaches continue.
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