Cars in the ocean, dog attacks and traffic jams: Broome’s famous Cable Beach feels weight of tourist influx

The Shire of Broome’s “education first” mantra is being put to the test as the famed Cable Beach sands play host to an increasing number of vehicle and dog-related dramas during one of the busiest tourist seasons on record. A hire car parked at Gantheaume Beach last week became the latest victim of Cable Beach’s tides, drawing a crowd as two four-wheel-drives dragged it back to dry land to be towed away. King Tide Towing owner Ian Anderson, one of two rescuers, said beach call-outs were a regular event in Broome. “We got a call that these guys had left their car on the beach and no one could reach them, couldn’t get them on their phone and it was a rental car,” he said. “We couldn’t get in the car and the handbrake was on so we had to drag it, which was pretty hard on the vehicles.” Last week’s event was the latest in a string of incidents to arise as record numbers of tourists flock to Cable Beach. In May, a four-wheel-drive suffered the same fate north of the rocks. The following day, two vehicles had near misses with the tide at Gantheaume. Also at Gantheaume in May, two tourists were run over while watching the sunset when a vehicle parked behind them rolled down the beach. There have been several run-ins, too, between horses, camels and dogs which have resulted in injury to riders. Further north, the rocks have once again become a traffic jam at sunset while drivers park at the entrance, ignoring the big sign at the access point telling them to head north. Shire of Broome president Harold Tracey said education would always be the preferred way to combat these issues, but enforcement would be on the table if rangers’ hands were forced. “Broome is known and loved for being a great holiday destination and ... we are really mindful of being a police State here,” he said. “For us, it is more about education over enforcement. “However, should our hand be forced with some individuals, well that is what is going to happen. “Speeding and dog control are two things ... we certainly have no tolerance for speeders on the beach and we try to police that as much as we can.” Red Sun Camels owner John Geappen said dogs in particular had caused numerous problems for camel train operators. “There was recently a bad accident involving a dog resulting in injuries to people getting thrown off a camel,” he said. “A dog attacked a camel with two people on it, they got bucked off and the front passenger’s foot got caught in the stirrup dangling upside down while the camel bucked. It was pretty ugly.” Mr Geappen said a handful of guests had asked for refunds upon seeing the camel trains would head north among the hordes of vehicles — a far cry from the camels-on-empty-beach photos regularly used to promote Broome. Mr Tracey said access to and from the beach to north of the rocks would be considered under the Cable Beach masterplan. “Once that detailed design period starts that is when we will have a look at what the alternatives are, particularly around making sure the camels and camel operators have safe passage down and back from the beach,” he said. “Every photo you see around the world of Broome is a sunset, the Willie and the camels walking on the beach... so it is important for us to make sure they are able to operate safely.” Mr Tracey said council had “no appetite” to change its mind on allowing camels to go south of the rocks.