Police patrol Stockton sand dunes - NSW Police Force

Working with other government departments, police can have a big
impact on keeping popular areas safer during the holiday season.
During the course of their duties
police can find themselves
patrolling a range of situations and
terrains. One example are a set of dunes
north of Newcastle that stretch for more
than 30 kilometres.
The dunes at Stockton Bight are the
largest moving sand dunes in the world.
They are also a magnet for rule-breakers
and anti social behaviour.
The dunes have long been popular
with legal and illegal off-road vehicles,
including 4WD vehicles, trail bikes, quad
bikes and buggies. The situation has led
the NSW Police Force to forge a strong
working relationship with the NSW
National Parks & Wildlife Service
(NPWS) in a bid to improve the
behaviour of those who visit the unique
geographical area.
The Stockton Bight sand dunes are
classified as Crown lands. Since February
2007 they have been owned by the
Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council
(LALC) and part of the land is leased
back to the Government as the Worimi
Conservation Lands. That area is known
as The Worimi and is co-managed by the
local Worimi Aboriginal community, in
partnership with NPWS.
The Worimi Conservation lands cover
approx 4436 hectares including 32km
of beach front. This includes
vegetated areas as well as the
sand dunes – which comprise
some 2500 hectares. The
dunes are open to the
public and are
extremely popular for
4WD enthusiasts.
Jason Bentley, Chief
Investigator with the
NPWS Department of
Environment, Climate
Change & Water (NSW), said
this caused problems for both
police and the NPWS.
“We have implemented a
number of measures to address
the situation – but the most
important factor is engaging
with the local police on joint
operations targeting the key issues”, Mr
Bentley said.
“The Worimi crosses both Newcastle
and Port Stephens LACs and both have
been great, with police from
Stockton and Nelson Bay
conducting patrols of
the beach and
frequently
assisting in
organised joint
campaigns.
They also
undertake their
own patrols when
their rosters
permit. Word
spreads quickly
along the beach once
the police are seen
and the attitude of
beach goers quickly
changes. We really
appreciate the
assistance and have
noticed a marked difference
24 POLICE MONTHLY / FEBRUARY 2012

in driver behaviour since more regular
police patrols began.”
One operation last year involved six
police officers, including two trail bike
officers and six Department of
Environment, Climate Change & Water
(DECCW) staff.
Four people were issued with
infringement notices or official cautions
for driving recklessly while police
conducted about 40 random breath tests
and registration checks throughout the
day. In addition people were cautioned
or fined for driving in conservation areas
and DECCW officers spoke to dozens of
people in relation to having
unrestrained dogs.
Mr Bentley said more operations
targeting the dunes would take place
over this summer.
“Further operations are planned, and
this, combined with regular patrols
should help to further educate people
about the rules that apply to the Worimi,”
he said.
Facts about the Stockton Bight
sand dunes
• On a single day in summer the sand dunes have
been known to attract as many as 6500 people.
• Surveys cited by NPWS have identified over 3000
vehicle movements on the beach and over 150
campsites – some with two or three tents.
• Other surveys have estimated 37 vehicle
movements per hour at each of the authorised
access points. This doesn’t take into account access
by quad bike or via some of the many unauthorised
access points along the 32km stretch of coast.
“It is important that all visitors
remember that, like our beaches,
the dunes are classified as a
road related area under the
Roads Act – and so the general
road rules apply.”
- Jason Bentley, Chief Investigator, Specialist
Investigations Unit, NPWS, Department of
Environment, Climate Change & Water.
FEBRUARY 2012 / POLICE MONTHLY 25