The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has installed a new sign restricting public hours at the Gulf Road beach access in Roberts Creek in response to complaints.
In late February, residents noticed a new sign at the beach access that lists prohibited activities and states the trail cannot be used between dusk and dawn and prohibits campfires. Violators would face a fine of up to $2,000.
The SCRD’s Parks Bylaw 356 states curfew hours are posted at the entrance to a particular park or trail, but where no hours are posted, there is to be no access between the hours of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
In an email, the SCRD’s communications person Aidan Buckley said, “There are some beach accesses (of which the Gulf Road access is one) as well as parks and trail access areas, to which the SCRD has received numerous complaints. This rise in complaints may be due to the noticeable increased use of the parks systems since COVID. While it is wonderful that people are enjoying the amazing park system that is available to them on the Sunshine Coast, it sometimes creates conflict. We are experiencing increased complaints about fires above the tide lines (and during fire bans), parking challenges, garbage and vandalism and noise, especially during the summer months.”
Residents have raised concerns about restricting public access to a public beach, and the curfew’s implications for other beach access points. Some commented that noise, fire and safety related issues could be addressed through existing bylaws. In a letter to the editor, former Roberts Creek area director Donna Shugar called for the sign to be removed, and for meaningful public consultation. The system of public beach accesses, Shugar wrote, “is essentially democratization of the waterfront, providing a safe way for everyone to access our beaches, themselves a public asset.”
When asked if this is the start of a new sign program for beach access points in the SCRD and if the new signs will also be added to other locations, the SCRD’s response was that “the signage was intended to help raise awareness around the use of our beautiful parks while respecting the environment and surrounding neighborhood. We will review language and effectiveness of the signage internally before deciding on a more fulsome rollout. Development of a new sign standard program is on the service plan for the Parks department.”
The Gulf Road access isn’t the only beach access location that has had issues. In early February, Coast Reporter noticed the roadside beach access sign was missing from its post at the Fullerton Road Beach along Redrooffs Road. The SCRD said this sign location “has historically been problematic.” While it’s not clear what happened to the sign, the SCRD said it “does go missing or is vandalized fairly frequently.”
Beach access signs in the SCRD are replaced on an as-needed basis, but some areas have higher rates of vandalism and need to be replaced several times a year, the SCRD said. The signs cost an average of between $75 to $200. The pricing varies depending on material, size, special treatments, and are made locally whenever feasible.
In the SCRD, there are approximately 25 beach accesses authorized through an agreement between the SCRD and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. SCRD parks, such as Chaster Park, Ocean Beach Esplanade, Coopers Green, Dan Bosch, Katherine Lake, and Bakers Beach, provide public access to the waterfront.
