Locals Lock Horns with Shire Over Cable Beach 4X4 Access

Cable Beach in WA is more than just a pretty spot to catch a sunset, it’s one of the last places in the country where you can roll straight onto 22km of world-class sand in your 4X4. That is, until now.

In the name of progress, the Shire of Broome has flicked the “closed” sign on vehicle access to the northern end of the beach as part of a multi-million-dollar foreshore redevelopment. The official line? New public spaces, better coastal protection, and a shiny new amphitheatre. But for locals and travellers alike, it feels more like getting bogged in bureaucracy.

A temporary closure with a long tail

The closure comes as part of Stage Two of a redevelopment that’s not expected to wrap up until late 2026. That’s two full dry seasons, peak time in the Kimberley, with no 4X4 access to the section of beach many locals call their backyard.

And while the Shire is promising “better access” once it’s all finished, that’s not much help right now. With the main beach car parks shut and the usual access ramps fenced off, traffic’s been backing up and tempers are starting to fray.

Community backlash builds

More than 1,000 locals have already signed a petition calling for a temporary access ramp to be built, arguing the beach is a way of life, not just a tourist brochure backdrop.

It’s a sentiment echoed across the region, where beach access isn’t just about convenience, it’s about fishing, family, and freedom. Sure, Gantheaume Point is still open to vehicles a bit further south, but it’s quickly becoming overrun with everyone funnelling into a much smaller stretch.

Food trucks left high and dry

And it’s not just beachgoers feeling the pinch. The local food truck scene, once thriving thanks to sunset crowds and easy access, has been booted from its usual patch and shoved out to the Broome Turf Club. The result? Sales halved, foot traffic slashed, and operators in the dark.

There’s no shortage of support for the redevelopment in principle. Most people get that improvements take time. But the common thread in all the complaints is that the rollout could have been handled better, more communication, more consultation, and maybe a bit more local common sense.

No pain, no gain?

Shire of Broome deputy president Desiree Male says the project will be worth the wait. “As a local born and bred here, I would access that beach with my dogs, so I’m going to miss it,” she said. “But the end result is going to be so worth it, just hang in there.”

That’s easy enough to say. But when the sun’s going down and your tyres aren’t allowed to hit the sand, it’s hard not to feel like something special has been temporarily taken away.

The Takeaway

We’re all for improving public spaces, but shutting down one of the country’s most iconic beach drives for two years without a proper workaround? That’s a hard sell. Here’s hoping the Shire listens to its locals and finds a way to bring 4X4s back before the sand cools.