Regional NSW advertisement under fire for promoting beach burns

By MARGARET DEKKER

A state government TV ad has come under fire for promoting a communal, open fire on a New South Wales beach despite the practice being prohibited in some Northern Rivers LGAs.

The ad, approved and aired by the NSW Department of Regional NSW, was shown during the recent Oakberry Tweed Coast Pro surfing event, broadcast by Fox Sports and available via Kayo. It was also streamed globally through WSL (World Surfing League) channels.

The scene in question shows a group of people sitting around an open fire at dusk on a NSW beach in a series of ‘cool scenes’ and images taken from Regional New South Wales, appealing to the younger demographic viewing the surfing broadcast.

But on the Tweed Coast, lighting an open fire on government land is prohibited.

“Council does not permit the lighting of fires on Council controlled land, this includes beaches,” Tweed Shire

Council’s website states.

The issue is not merely the open fire, but critically its remaining hot coals which people have covered with sand without them being extinguished.

In September, The Northern Rivers Times reported a Pottsville 2-year-old was left with third-degree burns to his little foot ‘after he unknowingly stepped on hot coals from a beachfire still burning from the previous night, but its coals were hidden by sand.’

‘The shocked grandfather of the toddler, Mark Cowan, said the experience was “extremely traumatic for everyone involved,” after his grandson was taken to hospital suffering serious burns to his sole and toes, and severe blistering.’

Jared Lee from Tweed Coast Rural Fire Brigade said at the time “it’s heartbreaking to hear of another person – this time, an innocent toddler – getting seriously burnt when out enjoying a walk on the beach and this happens.”

Mr Lee also issued a grim warning to all beachgoers and campers about the lasting dangers

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of beach fires:

“The heat can actually stay in there for up to 2-weeks, depending on the intensity of the original fire, not 1 or 2 days as is commonly thought but quite some time,” Jared Lee, Tweed Coast Rural Fire Brigade, said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Regional NSW said the campfire footage was filmed at Seal Rocks on the NSW Mid North Coast, in compliance with all relevant recreational fire regulations and permits required at the time.

“The Department of Regional NSW video shown at the 2023 World Surf League event at Tweed Heads promotes coastal tourism attractions and destinations in regional NSW,” a spokesperson for the Department of Regional NSW stated.

The Department did not respond to a question by The Northern Rivers Times about the mixed messaging from the promotion; that it’s good to light a fire on any beach in Regional NSW, when in some cases it is prohibited.