Drivers of vehicles with approved disability permits can continue to drive on many Clarence Valley beaches despite new restrictions introduced by the Clarence Valley Council in late 2018.

The council’s acting general manager, Troy Anderson, said council had received reports of legitimate beach users being confronted by people claiming they had no right to drive on the beach.

But Mr Anderson said changes to the council’s beach access policy included provisions to ensure people with disabilities could still get to the beach.

This included Pippi Beach in Yamba (access point Dolphin Park), Brooms Head Beach (access at Lake Cakora) and Wooli Beach (access at the breakwater).

“Where vehicle access is restricted to these beaches, holders of NSW Mobility Parking Scheme permits are allowed vehicle access and to remain on the beach,” he said.

“But they must keep within one kilometre of the entry gate and must be there only to transport themselves or others with mobility problems on or off the beach.

“Once those with mobility issues have exited the vehicle the vehicle must be either removed from the beach or parked at a safe distance away from the shoreline – a minimum 40 metres where practical.

“No further driving of the vehicle on the beach apart from parking the vehicle, or removing from the beach is permitted.”

A brochure explaining the changes is available here http://bit.ly/2RdNRtObeachbrochure and the full policy is available here http://bit.ly/2LrG46qbeachpolicy