ILLEGAL ENCROACHMENTS AT MAIN BEACH REMOVED

Land worth around $3 million at Main Beach on the Gold Coast has been returned to the public, Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said today.

Mr Wallace said illegal structures and gardens built on public land by some owners of multi-million-dollar beachside properties had been removed.

Early last month, after an investigation by the Department of Natural Resources and Water, property owners were given 28 days to remove illegal encroachments.

“A follow-up inspection last Friday showed all major Main Beach encroachments have been removed,” Mr Wallace said.

“Even though the Main Beach property owners live on the beach, they have no right to help themselves to part of it,” he said.

Encroachments included paving, gardens, lawns, garden lighting and fencing. One property enclosed a 5 metre deep strip of land with a steel fence and built a thatched gazebo partly on State land.

The value of land illegally encroached was about $3 million.

Two very small encroachments still need attention. In one case the owner is overseas and could not be contacted.

“We drew a line in the sand at Main Beach – we sent a message that encroachments on public land will not be tolerated,” Mr Wallace said.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.