How does the State Policy for Coastal Management affect vehicle access?
In most instances, vehicle access to and along foreshore areas is regulated by local governments under section 936 of the Local Government Act 1993. Generally local governments are recognised as the legal trustee of State coastal land. DERM has jurisdiction to regulate the use of vehicles on beaches that are within protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Once specific regulations or laws are in place to govern vehicle access, the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 can be administered on these beaches by the authority that regulates access (i.e. DERM if within a protected area, or local government in all other instances). The State Policy for Coastal Management and State Planning Policy for Coastal Protection Guideline guides local government and other land managers on what activities are appropriate in sensitive coastal environments. Based on this information, future local laws, enforcement activities and access restriction structures may be implemented
