Following our previous NOOSA 360 updates regarding driver behaviour on Teewah Beach and within the Cooloola Recreation Area, concerns continue to be raised by residents and visitors regarding unsafe driving practices, particularly during peak holiday periods.

As part of enforcement efforts, Queensland Police Service (QPS) has again conducted Operation Sandstorm over the Easter school holiday period, targeting road safety and compliance across these high-use areas.

In the first week of this operation QPS in a media release advised the following results in italics:

Police from the Sunshine Coast and Gympie Highway Patrols have issued 98 traffic infringement notices (TINs) and charged nine people during the first four days of Operation Sandstorm at Noosa North Shore, Teewah Beach, and Double Island Point.

Between 2 and 5 April, 766 random breath tests and 69 random drug tests were conducted. Two drivers allegedly returned positive blood alcohol concentration levels of 0.069 and 0.125, and six drivers also allegedly returned positive roadside drug test results.

A total of 32 traffic infringement notices were issued for speeding, including one 17-year-old red P plate driver allegedly caught travelling 94 kilometres an hour in a 40 zone at Cooloola.

26 TINs were issued for defective vehicles, with four of those vehicles ordered off the road for major defects. 14 TINs were also issued for not wearing seatbelts, four for unsecure loads and two for careless driving.

Operation Sandstorm will continue over the school holidays, with daily patrols also planned for the Labour Day long weekend.

Motorists are being reminded that Queensland road rules apply everywhere they drive in public, including beaches, inland tracks and islands, and that they should expect police anywhere, anytime.

These results highlight ongoing compliance issues and reinforce the need for continued enforcement and education to improve safety outcomes.

As previously raised, further action is required to address unsafe and non-compliant behaviour, and we continue to advocate to both the Minister for Police and the Minister for the Environment regarding over visitation, safety, compliance and environmental concerns across the Noosa North Shore, Teewah Beach and broader Cooloola Coast.

Further information

Residents can search crime/offence statistics anytime at www.police.qld.gov.au/maps-and-statistics. We also have information on how policing works in the Noosa Electorate at www.sandybolton.com/policing-in-noosa-july-2023.

For those wishing to also advocate with the relevant Queensland Ministers directly regarding this, please consider emailing the following:

Please copy in our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.

For all our previous updates regarding Teewah, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=Teewah