Quad-bike menace continues at coast

THE total disregard for environmental conservation shown by scores of quad-bikers along the coast every Christmas season, is fast becoming a national crisis according to several tour operators and conservationists in the area.

“What happened this year is a disgrace,” said one operator who preferred anonymity. “Coastal residents, especially at Swakopmund and Longbeach, can’t enjoy a leisurely walk, cycle or drive without the disturbance of quad-bikes, pipe cars, dune masters and other off-road vehicles.”The Government, coastal municipalities and tourism bodies need to call an urgent meeting to address the current quad and ORV disaster in and around our towns,” he urged.Smaller 250cc machines were replaced by 360cc and 650cc machines that can spin a trench of half a metre deep into the sand in seconds and turn the delicate gravel plains into a war zone in minutes, he said.On top of that these vehicles are designed to make as much noise as possible.According to him, all bikes should be subjected to noise control inspections.He stressed that banning quad-bikes is not the solution since quad-bike operators play an important role in the economy.”The dunes belong to everybody and people are entitled to fun activities,” he said.He suggested that the government and municipalities fence off boundaries for tour operators away from sensitive ecology such as the Damara Tern breeding areas and the Swakop River environment.”We have parks for children to play in, therefore we should have parks in the dunes for bikers to play in.””Operators do what they want because there is no regulation guiding them and therefore they add dramatically to the present deteriorated state of the dune belt”.He suggested that tour operators should be trained in first aid as well as environmental conservation.Laws should be drafted and enforced strictly for those who do not obey.He also suggested that booklets or pamphlets citing the laws and code of conduct while off-roading should be handed out by the Police at all border entry points into the country, so as to educate the tourists entering (especially South Africans) on how to behave when off-roading.According to Freddie Kaukungua of the Swakopmund Municipality, quad-bikes are under control in Swakopmund as all problems are experienced outside their area of jurisdiction.He said traffic officers were quick to act on culprits in Swakopmund this season.He said that the municipality however agreed that something needs to be done at Government level as the areas being damaged fall under the Ministries of Fisheries and Marine Resources as well as Environment and Tourism.”Coastal residents, especially at Swakopmund and Longbeach, can’t enjoy a leisurely walk, cycle or drive without the disturbance of quad-bikes, pipe cars, dune masters and other off-road vehicles.”The Government, coastal municipalities and tourism bodies need to call an urgent meeting to address the current quad and ORV disaster in and around our towns,” he urged. Smaller 250cc machines were replaced by 360cc and 650cc machines that can spin a trench of half a metre deep into the sand in seconds and turn the delicate gravel plains into a war zone in minutes, he said.On top of that these vehicles are designed to make as much noise as possible.According to him, all bikes should be subjected to noise control inspections.He stressed that banning quad-bikes is not the solution since quad-bike operators play an important role in the economy.”The dunes belong to everybody and people are entitled to fun activities,” he said.He suggested that the government and municipalities fence off boundaries for tour operators away from sensitive ecology such as the Damara Tern breeding areas and the Swakop River environment.”We have parks for children to play in, therefore we should have parks in the dunes for bikers to play in.””Operators do what they want because there is no regulation guiding them and therefore they add dramatically to the present deteriorated state of the dune belt”.He suggested that tour operators should be trained in first aid as well as environmental conservation.Laws should be drafted and enforced strictly for those who do not obey.He also suggested that booklets or pamphlets citing the laws and code of conduct while off-roading should be handed out by the Police at all border entry points into the country, so as to educate the tourists entering (especially South Africans) on how to behave when off-roading.According to Freddie Kaukungua of the Swakopmund Municipality, quad-bikes are under control in Swakopmund as all problems are experienced outside their area of jurisdiction.He said traffic officers were quick to act on culprits in Swakopmund this season.He said that the municipality however agreed that something needs to be done at Government level as the areas being damaged fall under the Ministries of Fisheries and Marine Resources as well as Environment and Tourism.