PORT Stephens Council has shared the results of a recent cabana compliance initiative.
The campaign targeted unattended items such as cabanas being used to reserve spots at Fly Point, Little Beach and Shoal Bay Beach.
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Rangers attended these areas ahead of Australia Day.
One large cabana was packed down at 7am at Little Beach and was later observed to have been collected.
On Saturday, 25 January, no cabanas were on the beaches in the early morning or left overnight from the previous day.
Ahead of the blitz, Council advised that “obvious unattended items such as cabanas will be packed down and moved to a general nearby location in accordance with the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021.
“Delegated Rangers will place a sticker on the item notifying the owner of the items as being “unattended” as required under the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021.”
If council were to “take possession” of the item, it would need to be notified.
This is done via an “unattended items” sticker.
After seven days, unattended items can be taken into possession and disposed of if the value is under $200.
Items that are left in a position causing health and safety risk to those within the vicinity may be moved, to mitigate the health and safety risks.
Port Stephens Council launched its wider compliance campaign on 1 January.
It began with cabanas left unattended at beaches being stickered with Unattended Article notices, as a warning.
Around 40 cabana owners were spoken to and 12 items received stickers as a warning.
All feedback during the campaign was positive with many beachgoers thanking rangers for their fair and reasonable approach to this issue.
By Jacie WHITFIELD
