Sutherland Shire Council says it has been working with the private operator of the four-wheel-drive park at Boat Harbour after photos emerged of what appears to be hundreds of vehicles lining the once pristine beach earlier this month.
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It comes as Kurnell residents were forced to cancel plans or sit in long traffic queues a number of times in recent weeks, largely due to vehicles waiting to get into the four-wheel drive park, which is located on Captain Cook Drive - the only route to and from Kurnell.
Cronulla-based photographer and environmentalist Jenny Templin took the photo, which has since appeared on social media and in news reports.
Ms Templin said she was at Wanda beach on Sunday, January 10, and was shocked to see a double layer of four-wheel-drive vehicles parked along much on the beach.
"I have never seen anything like that before," Ms Templin said.
"I have seen a single lane of vehicles, but never two.
"It was like a whole town full of people had arrived.
"I ended up walking all the way to Boat Harbour to take photos and spent the afternoon out there walking around and documenting it."
Ms Templin said she immediately became concerned about the environmental impact of having so many people and vehicles on a beach.
"My main concern was hygiene - having hundreds of people out there; families with young children. Where are they all going to go to the toilet?" she said, adding her worst fears were realised when she walked into the dunes to take some photos only to find evidence that people were relieving themselves there.
"There are apparently portaloos in the car park but this is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the beach," she said.
Ms Templin said while most visitors that day appeared well behaved and took their rubbish with them, others left their waste behind on the beach, and she spent hours cleaning up so it wouldn't make its way into the ocean, even asking other motorists to take some with them.
She was so concerned she wrote a letter to Sutherland Shire Council, State MP for Cronulla Mark Speakman and the Leader.
"While it was wonderful to see so many people thoroughly enjoying their day out - especially as most had travelled for hours in no doubt heavy traffic, the impact on the beach itself must be enormous," she wrote.
Ms Templin said she was contacted by Kurnell residents who were stranded at home, unable to leave to buy groceries or go on planned outings, as they would not be able to get back home. Others had to cancel visitors who could not make it into Kurnell.
She has collected observations and suggestions from Kurnell residents, which she sent to the council this week in a bid to address the problem.
Ms Templin said she was not suggesting the 4WD park should be closed down - just that it is "regulated in a way that does not cause chaos and filth", or continue to disrupt the lives of Kurnell residents.
A Sutherland Shire Council spokesman said the council was aware of concerns held by Kurnell residents over traffic congestion exacerbated by those seeking to access Bate Bay via Boat Harbour, and was "actively working with relevant stakeholders to address these concerns".
"At the request of council, the private operators of Boat Harbour have developed a traffic management plan, which is aimed at more effectively managing traffic access to the popular area during times of peak demand," he said.
"Under this plan, Boat Harbour operators are responsible for the provision of professional traffic controllers, the supply and placement of variable messaging signage advising of park capacity and ensuring that these signs can be readily updated to discourage access to the park as demand increases.
"Council and NSW Police work closely with the operators of Boat Harbour to assist in the management of traffic surrounding the site, with NSW Police deploying additional highway patrol resources to effectively manage traffic flow when required.
"Council, in partnership with other relevant authorities and community stakeholders, is continuing to proactively work with the park operators to balance the demands of local residents and those seeking recreational water access via the Boat Harbour site, in the interests of ensuring local residents are not unnecessarily inconvenienced on weekends and other periods of peak demand."
The Leader has asked Boat Harbour Park for comment.
