Visitor facilities at Maloneys Beach include a paved access road, wheelchair-friendly parking, interpretive signs, outdoor seating, and a staircase to improve access to walking trails, like the popular Murramarang South Coast Walk.
A hardened walking path to the beach was built to make it easier for all visitors, including those launching kayaks and paddleboards and with accessibility requirements.
Community consultation
We have carried out extensive public consultation before making the changes at Maloneys Beach. This included community meetings at several locations (including Maloneys Beach), regular project updates on the NPWS website and via the project newsletter, and on-site meetings with interested community members.
A precinct plan for Maloneys Beach was developed and publicly exhibited as part of the development of the Murramarang South Coast Walk master plan. The changes implemented within the national park are consistent with the draft master plan released in July 2020, as well as the final version published in June 2021 and updated in August 2022.
Closure of unauthorised tracks
Previously unrestricted vehicle access across the national park to Maloneys Beach caused significant environmental damage.
The sandy vehicle tracks wore down over time, with some parts sinking under the weight of vehicles. The foredune was also impacted, leaving sparse vegetation due to vehicle damage. This lack of plants prevented the dune from building up sand, which is important for protecting against coastal erosion.
There were also issues with antisocial behaviour, such as illegal camping, bush toileting, and unauthorised campfires.
Unauthorised vehicle tracks in the national park have been closed and rehabilitated, including an informal vehicle track previously used to launch small boats from the beach, which is not allowed under the park's statutory plan of management.
Eurobodalla Shire Council also decided to close a section of informal track on council-managed land abutting the national park. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service completed this work at the council's request. We often collaborate with local governments to efficiently manage public land.