A controversial decision by Port Stephens Council to keep a major beach car park closed for the peak summer season has ignited community anger, with warnings it could endanger swimmers and cause traffic chaos at a popular tourist destination.
Community Warns of Swimmer Safety Risk
The South Tomaree Community Association (STCA) has accused the council of putting the interests of a few ahead of the broader community by refusing to reopen the 105-space lower car park at Birubi Point, Anna Bay. The prepared sand parking area has been closed since April 2025 after severe storms and flooding caused significant damage.
Local volunteers and the Birubi Point Surf Life Saving Club say the lack of parking will force visitors to park further away and swim in unpatrolled areas of the beach. Club president Rohan Fisher expressed grave concerns, stating their primary patrol area is directly in front of the clubhouse.
"Our biggest concern is that if people are not able to park down there, they will park at other ends of the beach where we do not provide a primary patrol resource," Mr Fisher said. He warned the club would have to stretch its resources to monitor larger crowds swimming outside the main zone, a situation compounded by four-wheel-drive beach access creating a "complete grey zone" for lifesavers.
The safety fears are backed by stark statistics: from September 2024 to April 2025, lifesavers performed 57 rescues and attended to 46 first aid calls at Birubi beach.
Council Cites Environmental and Logistical Challenges
Port Stephens Council's general manager, Tim Crosdale, defended the decision, stating the damage was "beyond council's usual maintenance resources." He explained the site sits on "highly sensitive and naturally unstable" land, with pressure from major weather events, rising groundwater, and increasing visitation taking a toll.
While the public is barred, access to the lower car park will be maintained for members and volunteers of the Birubi Point Surf Club. This exemption has further frustrated locals. Tanya Martin, co-president of the STCA and an Anna Bay resident, questioned the logic. "And if vehicles from the surf club can access the parking without worry, why can't the public?" she asked.
Ms Martin did not mince words about the potential consequences: "There is a high probability that this decision by Port Stephens Council will cost lives. It is a decision not supported by the local community."
Tourism, Traffic and Accessibility Impacts
The closure threatens to exacerbate existing summer traffic problems and hits tourism operators hard. The lower car park served as a key operational base for businesses running 4WD bus, quad bike, and camel tours on the famous Stockton Sand dunes.
Ms Martin predicted gridlock, noting that over 154,000 visitors came last summer. With only around 70 upper car parks now available, she expects traffic to back up onto Gan Gan Road. "It'll be quite a mess... their measures will not ease the traffic chaos," she stated, also warning of increased road rage and safety issues.
The council has announced mitigation measures including extra line marking, signage, increased ranger presence, and digital updates on parking availability. However, the community deems these insufficient.
Another significant concern is reduced beach access for people with mobility issues, who relied on the lower car park and its concrete pathway.
At a council meeting on December 9, director Brock Lamont indicated negotiations with local traditional owners were ongoing and the car park would not reopen this peak season. The STCA has suggested conflict between the council and the Worimi management group may be preventing repairs.
With summer in full swing, the community is bracing for a season of safety risks, frustrated tourists, and traffic nightmares at one of Port Stephens' most iconic beaches.
