Rangers and police are using drones to identify unauthorised vehicles involved in off-road activity in Two Rocks.
WA Police said they have been assisting and would continue to assist in conducting proactive patrols in Two Rocks using a police-issued drone.
The City of Wanneroo said the joint patrols would allow rangers the opportunity to educate unauthorised vehicle drivers and offer alternative places where off road activities could be conducted legally, such as the Pinjar offroad vehicle area or Wilbinga in the Shire of Gingin.
The action is the result of a petition presented to the city in April asking the council to introduce measures to prevent four-wheel drive vehicles gaining access to the Two Rocks beach dunes to undertake illegal off-roading activities in places such as Dame Pattie Dr, Resolute Dr and Sovereign Dr near the Two Rocks Primary School.
The petition said since the removal of the Dewars beach easement there had been significant illegal four-wheel drive access breaking through the fencing and limestone boulders that were installed in attempts to prevent further access to the north.
“This is negatively impacting residents, due to the anti-social behaviour, excessive noise, litter and headlights shining into homes,’’ the petitioners said.
An officer’s report presented to the October council meeting said access north of Two Rocks by off-road and four-wheel drive vehicles had been an ongoing issue for many years.
In 2008 an access track, known as Dewars track, was constructed through private property to the north of Two Rocks from the corner of Dame Pattie and Sovereign drives.
A risk assessment of Dewars track, which demonstrated the current configuration posed an unacceptable high risk to track users was undertaken by the city in 2015.
Following the risk assessment the council decided to surrender the relevant easements and closed Dewars track on January 15, 2016.
The report said fencing was installed to prevent access further north from the site but drivers had continued to illegally force access via a number of other access points.
The access point at Breakwater Drive (400m east of the intersection with Dame Pattie Dr) is the main access point used,’’ the report said.
“This site provides access for earthworks and civic contractors to the precinct’s site compound and therefore is unable to be closed.
“The closed access points off Dame Pattie Dr at the intersection of Resolute Dr and opposite Galatea Grove are the locations that cause the most significant disturbance to residents.
“The city prevents access where possible (using large rocks) but vehicles accessing the track (which runs along the west and north sides of the school) will turn around when they can’t get onto Dame Pattie Dr, or seek to force an exit onto Dame Pattie Dr, rather than head to the east to the exit at Breakwater Dr.
“When this occurs at night it is particularly disturbing to residents due to the headlights and excessive noise.”
In terms of enforcement, licenced vehicles that travel north and access the foreshore reserve, commit an offence against the City of Wanneroo Public Places and Local Government Property Local Law 2015, which can result in the issue of a $500 infringement.
But the city said most vehicles crossed private property, which meant they would be liable for “trespassing” under the provisions of Criminal Code Compilation Act 2013 as they did not have consent from the property owner to access the area.
This offence needs to be reported by the property owner at the time and can only be prosecuted by WA Police.
WA Police said for the joint patrols they were using a standard-issued police drone operated by a qualified officer and the patrols were not part of the Australian-first drone-in-a-box trial underway at Yanchep Police station announced in August.
This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 28 October 2024.
