Vehicle bans look set to stay at Nanarup Beach West, Betty’s Beach North ahead of council vote

City of Albany council looks set to keep vehicles off Nanarup Beach West and Betty’s Beach North after overriding an officer’s recommendation to open access to the sites.

At a committee meeting earlier this month, councillors supported an amendment put forward by Cr Paul Terry to prohibit vehicles on Nanarup Beach West and Bettys Beach North, going against an officer’s recommendation.

The committee recommendation — to be voted on at tonight’s ordinary council meeting — would ban vehicles on both beaches and request a report to council by April 2022 to monitor environmental concerns at both sites.

Mayor Dennis Wellington, Cr Emma Doughty, Cr Greg Stocks, Cr Robert Sutton and Cr Sandie Smith voted against Cr Terry’s amendment.

The turnaround follows a recommendation from the City put out for public comment in June to allow vehicles on Betty’s Beach North and Nanarup Beach West, and to allow vehicles on Betty’s Beach South to launch boats.

After the first period of public comment, the City revised its initial plans to ban vehicle access to Shoal Bay and Betty’s Beach North.

During another public comment period which closed last month, 38 submissions were received, with 36 opposing the City’s recommendation to open vehicle access on Nanarup Beach West. Key themes of concern included “safety, antisocial behaviour and environment”, the report stated.