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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →No access fee for 4WD drivers at Preston Beach has been confirmed. In February 2024, the Shire of Waroona agreed to develop a visitor-management strategy and investigate options that included permits. Its August 2026 amended draft plan says a permit system is not the preferred or default approach; it could be considered if other measures prove insufficient. The draft required further assessment and community consultation before any implementation.
What does “inevitable” mean in the 2024 headline?
It described a possibility, not an approved charge. In March 2024, Shire president Mike Walmsley told ABC South West WA that visitors might eventually contribute to the cost of managing the beach. He also said ratepayers would not be charged to enter Preston Beach. The Shire’s February 2024 Council minutes record endorsement of a strategy, not a decision to introduce a fee.
Walmsley told ABC: “The bottom line is our ratepayers are subsiding the cost of our visitors and we need to look at recovering the cost.” The same report said closing the beach to 4WDs was the last thing the Shire wanted. PerthNow’s March 2024 use of “inevitable” reflected the prospect of a visitor contribution, not a settled price or policy.
Why did Waroona consider permits?
The Council report described pressure on facilities, the environment and vehicle access during the 2023/24 Christmas and New Year period. It cited blocked toilets, toilets used in the dunes, mistreated barbecues, overflowing bins, crowded parking, soft sand and vehicles bogging on access tracks. It also noted informal camping and antisocial incidents, with Shire staff, volunteers and rangers struggling to manage peak demand.
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The minutes recorded $6,000 in over-budget plumbing and additional bin collections over a few days. That short-period figure excludes staff time and other responses; it is neither an annual total nor a proposed permit fee.
The Shire’s August 2026 draft says precise visitor counts, parking demand and facility-use figures for Preston Beach are limited. It does not establish a visitor growth rate or a count of non-local visitors.
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What is the Shire’s latest position?
The August 2026 amended draft Preston Beach Management Plan says a permit-based access system “is not the preferred or default management approach.” It may be considered as one possible tool if needed, particularly during peak visitation, to manage behaviour, improve safety and protect environmental values. Any move toward permits would require further assessment, consideration of costs and community consultation before implementation.
The draft describes a stepped approach rather than a confirmed permit scheme. Options include education and signage, seasonal or conditional controls, clearly marked access areas and targeted enforcement. Permit, registration or technology-based systems could be investigated later if other measures are not enough. The trade-offs include safety and environmental protection, fair access, operating costs, the distribution of costs between visitors and ratepayers, effectiveness at peak times and community acceptance.
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What has happened since the proposal was first raised?
| Date | Development | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 27 February 2024 | Council endorsed preparation of a beach visitor-management strategy. | Permits were among options to consider; no fee was approved. |
| 3–4 March 2024 | ABC reported the permit discussion; PerthNow used “inevitable” in its headline. | The wording referred to a possible visitor contribution, not an implemented charge. |
| May 2025 | The Shire proposed a local law to control access in exceptional circumstances. | The Shire CEO said it was not a blanket 4WD ban. Compatibility with a possible future permit system did not mean one had been adopted. |
| August 2026 | The Shire issued an amended draft management plan. | Permits remained a non-default option for consideration if other measures proved inadequate. |
| 25 September 2026 | The consultation page listed this as the deadline for comments on the amended draft. | The deadline has passed; the sources available do not confirm a subsequent Council decision. |
A separate Shire announcement in May 2024 said the State Government granted $100,000 for access improvements for all users, including an accessible barbecue, seating and table, and accessible play equipment. That accessibility grant was separate from any possible 4WD fee.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Preston Beach charging 4WDs now?
The sources available do not establish that a fee or permit system has been adopted or put into operation. The latest located official policy is the August 2026 amended draft, which treats permits as a possible fallback rather than its default approach. Although the Shire invited comments through 25 September 2026, a later Council decision on the plan or any charge is not confirmed.
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Sources
- Shire of Waroona, Preston Beach Management Plan – Amended Draft, August 2026.
- Shire of Waroona, Minutes – Ordinary Council Meeting 27 February 2024.
- ABC South West WA, 4WD drivers may have to pay to access Preston Beach in Shire of Waroona, 3 March 2024.
- Shire of Waroona, Current Consultation – Amended Draft Preston Beach Management Plan.
- South Western Times, Regional shire says proposed local laws not intending to limit 4x4s on the beach despite laying the foundation, 8 May 2025.
- PerthNow, Shire of Waroona’s plan to make 4WD drivers pay to access Preston Beach ‘inevitable’, 4 March 2024.
- Shire of Waroona, Preston Beach Access Improvements, 16 May 2024.
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