Port Stephens Council is hoping the sight of dinghies tied up on the beach at Shoal Bay will be a thing of the past, saying the practice is destroying sensitive dune vegetation.
The council is cracking down on boat owners leaving their dinghies on the beach chained up to low-lying trees and bushes.
Council's Waterways Asset Co-ordinator, Bryce Cameron says as a result the vegetation is being damaged, and that is exacerbating erosion of the beach.
"Now with the increase in popularity of the beaches, we're getting more and more of this," he said.
"There are a number of trees which have been ring-barked and it is becoming a problem where the dunes are being significantly weakened by the reduction in vegetation."
Mr Cameron says Council is offering free storage facilities as an alternative and he's urging boat owners to use the racks.
"Council doesn't want to become big-brother, they just want the dune vegetation to grow," he said.
"And for the owners to be responsible and put dinghies and boats into the foreshore racks that are provided.
"We will be placing letters on a number of dinghies and ultimately we can confiscate boats that are left there for long periods."
Source: abc.net.au
