The City of Mandurah’s ranger team has a new addition: an all-terrain patrol vehicle nicknamed ‘Ranger Green’.
The vehicle hit the beaches just before Christmas, and was purchased for $25,000 to increase rangers’ ability to access off-road areas that normal road operational 4WDs cannot access including coastal and quarry areas.
“It’s a lot easier to get around on the beach, and have a lot more interaction with the community,” senior ranger Paul Kimber said.
“The idea is to be engaged with them rather than just do drive-bys, and actually this is a more approachable machine, people come up and chat to them.”
He said the vehicle will also raise the profile of illegal misdemeanors and offences.
“People will have it in the back of their mind that the vehicle could be anywhere at any time,” Mr Kimber said.
“There’ll always be two rangers in it, on patrol. The vehicle is equipped with a fast-response first aid kit as well, and we’ve got brochures and pamphlets and stuff to give people advice on the different aspects of beach use.”
He said the vehicle would be especially useful in controlling illegal camping and campfires, litter, dogs in the wrong areas, off-road vehicles, and shark sightings.
Mr Kimber added they were not rushing to infringe, but that the vehicle would make it easier to issue cautions and follow up on them.