Park fees introduced

Despite protest from local residents, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has begun charging admission fees to Putty Beach.

Residents from the area have sent a petition to State Parliament asking for a review of the fees.

A spokesperson for Killcare residents opposing the fees, Mr Fred Elsom, said he had a petition with 635 signatures which indicated strong support for abolishing fees for local residents.

"The local people are disadvantaged because in paying the fees, we are subsidising facilities that we do not use," Mr Elsom said.

"It is the visitors to the area who use the two toilets, 19 camping areas and three gas barbecues, not the locals who just want to have a swim or a walk."

The admission fee for a day at Putty Beach has been set at $6 a vehicle, and an annual pass $20.

"What is to stop these fees from going up?" asked a spokesperson for Wagstaffe Progress Association.

"Nothing is stationary.

"Our community does so much for the National Park.

"We maintain and staff the fire truck.

"We fundraise within the community and we have bush regeneration groups.

"We pay the same rates as everyone else, but we are slapped with a fee to enter our beach.

"Because the service is charging people to park their cars at the Putty Beach carpark, people are now just parking their cars on the road outside the Park," Mr Elsom said.

Mayor Cr Chris Holstein has expressed concern over the possible threat to safety if cars block the road at the entrance to the beach.

Spokesperson for National Parks and Wildlife Service, Ms Lee Webster, said the fees were put into place to maintain high-quality facilities.

She said the park maintenance would make the area more attractive for tourists and this would benefit the local community.

According to local residents, the meter at Putty Beach which collected the fees had been vandalised and broken, indicating the anger felt by some people towards the introduction of fees.

Local residents disassociated themselves from the vandalism saying they preferred to "play by the rules".

Sally Lambert, December 13