SUNSHINE Coast Council is calling on the community to come together in an effort to help some of the smallest coast residents – tiny turtle hatchlings.
February is when the first turtle hatchlings emerge from their nests beneath the sand along our dunal regions and before this happens council want to help these little hatchlings to have the best possible start by cleaning up the region which is likely to be their path out to the ocean.
The Clean Up for the hatchlings event will take place at multiple beach locations on Saturday, February 4.
Sunshine Coast Council is proudly running this event in partnership with TurtleCare Sunshine Coast, Reef Check Australia, Unitywater, Sea Life Sunshine Coast, and Noosa Council.
Volunteers can register now to pick up litter at various beach locations between Noosa and Caloundra from 6am to 7.30am and from 8am, participants are invited to Coopers Lookout Park, south of the Kawana Surf Club, to enjoy a free barbecue, participate in a prize draw and other fun activities and, most importantly, to weigh and sort the collected debris.
The event will be single-use plastic-free, so make sure you bring a reusable water bottle, coffee cup and gloves, as well as enclosed footwear, and sun protection.
Sunshine Coast Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Peter Cox said that while every day could be a beach clean-up day, he was delighted to see our community come together to help protect these threatened species every year.
“We are a turtle-friendly community on the Sunshine Coast, and this is our chance to make a difference to our threatened turtle hatchlings,” Cr Cox said.
“So far this nesting season, we’ve had 10 turtle nests and approximately 1270 eggs laid.
“Cleaning up the beaches will give these little guys the best start in life.”
Event schedule for the day:
- 6am – 7.30am – meet at your chosen beach to clean it up. Registrations are essential and can be made by searching for ‘clean up for the hatchlings’ at events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
- 8am – 11am – thank-you event at Coopers Lookout Park, Pacific Blvd, Buddina, which includes and a free barbeque for clean-up participants, kids’ activities corner, educational stalls, presentation talks and free raffle.
Local clean-up locations and beach access (BA) points include:
- Coolum (meet at BA 72)
- Point Arkwright (meet at BA 85)
- Marcoola (BA 104)
- North Shore (meet at the hut in park at end of North Shore Rd, Twin Waters).
There will also be a chance to score a prize including vouchers for Your Mates Brewery, SeaLife and Saltwater Ecotours.