Imagine the shock, when black smoke engulfed the town, many headed for the beach, only to find the track to the entrance was still fenced off when we arrived to find the seas were too rough to run along the beach to safety.

The time has come to remove these barriers so locals can access the inside track in safety without the fear of their vehicles being bogged and swamped as they are now.

Sooner or later somebody will be seriously harmed when we are threatened again, which we are told will be a regular event. I saw genuine fear on the faces of many over those who fled that day.

Time now to protect the safety of residents due to climate change, humans first, birds second.