Council consideration of Dewars Track – recommended closure

Please see the following Frequently Asked Questions which broadly explains the current position of City's Administration.

Why is the City proposing to close the Track?

Prolonged illegal and severe abuse of Dewars Track has caused it to deteriorate leading to significant safety concerns and substantial environmental issues.  Despite broad efforts undertaken to by the City to regulate track use and engage with users to minimise harm, the misuse has made maintenance and control of the track untenable because of cost implications for City ratepayers.    

What are the safety concerns?

Some safety concerns include:

• Hooning and reckless driving;
• Driving in areas off the Track where there are unexploded mines;
• Abuse of the track leading to degraded track quality (including burn outs etc);
• General wear and tear of the track leading to dips and pot holes etc.

What are the environmental concerns?

Some environmental concerns include:

• erosion
• illegal dumping/littering; and
• harm to the dunes where people go off the Track.

What evidence does the City have regarding environmental harm and safety concerns?

The City has obtained a number of expert reports outlining environmental and safety concerns. The City also has a number of photographs and condition assessment reports which show the degradation. 

What illegal activities/misuse is happening on the track? 

Examples of misuse include:

• vandalism
• driving beyond the Track areas
• destruction of property
• illegal parking
• anti-social behaviour
• trespass 
• littering; and 
• illegal dumping.

How does the City know about illegal activity/misuse?

The City has received over 100 complaints from residents in respect of the Track in the last year.

The City undertakes regular Ranger patrols of the area and occasional blitz operations where it focuses on non-compliant use. 

The City has undertaken regular maintenance and monitoring of the Track, including installing temporary CCTV cameras and traffic counters.

Despite repeated attempts from Rangers and other City officers to educate the public about the proper use of the Track, abuse continues. A recent operation also showed that 90% of the users of the Track were using it as a thoroughfare through private property.

When will it close and for how long?

If Council decides to close the Track, it will be closed from Friday 18 December 2015. The Track will be closed indefinitely. 

Why can't the City fix up the Track and police it better?

The City has had an upgrade to the Track costed, which has also included the required regular maintenance and inspections that would be required. This could cost over $4 million. 

As the Track crosses across two private landholdings, the City only has access to the Track through two easements. The easements agreed will last a maximum of 10 years, and at any time, either party may withdraw its consent to the easement. That means that the City may spend significant rate payer funds on the Track only to have it closed by the land owners.

What community engagement has there been?

Following temporary closure of the Track last year, and its subsequent reopening, the City developed a 4WD Working Group, which included various stakeholders from the community and interest groups. The intention was that they would meet, and discuss options for the Track and other 4WD sites. The group met only once, and did not provide any further information to the City. 

What happens if I still use the Track?

If Council decides to close the Track, it will become illegal to use the Track or enter the land around the Track. Offenders are liable to be prosecuted for trespass.

How can I access Dewars surf break and fishing spot now?

People who still wish to use the surf and fishing spot near the end of the Track will be able to access it on foot from the beach adjacent to Damepattie Drive.  Driving cars on the beach in Wanneroo is illegal.

I was planning to use the Track this summer. Where else can I go?

You will need to find an alternative route. There is no gazetted four wheel driving area in Wanneroo, however there are two such areas just to the north of Wanneroo in the Shire of Gingin. Alternative access to Wilbinga is available from Wilbinga Road located off Indian Ocean Drive after Military Drive in the Shire of Gingin.  

What do I do if I see people using the Track after it’s closed?

You should call the police.