Environment Southland (ES) had received repeated complaints over the past few years relating to noise and concerns about damage to the sand dunes at Omaui Beach.
Last week, ES posted on their Facebook page about a group of motorcyclists causing issues driving along the beach.
An Omaui Beach resident, who asked not to be named, told the Southland Express this week a group of motorcyclists were seen riding their motorcycles at high speeds within metres of children.
He said a few thoughtless people and some with extra noisy trail bikes were ruining the beach for everyone else.
Until now, the beach had been a safe place for young children to learn how to ride motorcycles on their peewee 50s, he said.
He called for ES to clarify the rules about using vehicles on the beach.
Another Omaui Beach resident, Cory Boyce, said he was worried the complaint would lead to the beach being closed off to vehicles for good.
"It will end up being classed as a public road, no-one will be able to drive on the beach, no-one will be able to do anything."
Mr Boyce said he believed it was an outsider who had complained about the motorcyclists.
"It’s none of the residents that live out here because it’s the residents’ kids that are the ones playing on the beach so it’s only the people that are coming into Omaui."
He said the children were respectful to other beach users and stayed on one side of the beach.
"They show respect by sticking at the other end but you’re not going to please everybody at the end of the day."
An ES spokeswoman said although it was not illegal to ride a motorcycle on the beach, speeds must not exceed 30kmh and noise level restrictions needed to be respected.
If anyone saw dangerous driving along any beach they should contact the police, she said.
ES resource management monitoring and enforcement team leader Tania McCann said rules for the use of motorcycles and other vehicles under 3500kg on Omaui Beach were governed by the Regional Coastal Plan for Southland 2013 and the Land Transport Act 1998.
She said Omaui Beach was a special place for many Southlanders to enjoy and encouraged anyone using vehicles to be respectful of other beach users and Omaui residents.
