It's almost time for our baby turtle hatchlings to break out of their eggs and wiggle their way to the ocean, and Sunshine Coast Council is calling on the community to help clear the way.
Registrations are now open for the eighth annual Clean up for the Hatchlings event, at 17 locations from Coolum to Caloundra, on Saturday 30 January, 2021.
Volunteers are invited to register and meet at the beach of their choice at 6am to pick up litter and clean up the beach ready for the hatchlings.
From 8am at La Balsa Park, Buddina, all volunteers will come together to enjoy a free barbecue, participate in a prize draw and other fun activities, and most importantly, to weigh and sort the collected debris.
Environment Portfolio Councillor Peter Cox said Clean up for the Hatchings gave our community the opportunity to help protect the threatened species.
"We love our turtles on the Sunshine Coast – so if you'd like to help the baby turtle hatchlings have a clear run to the ocean, come along to Clean up for the Hatchlings event at a beach near you," Cr Cox said.
"So far this nesting season, we've had 62 turtle nests and approximately 8,000 eggs. Cleaning up the beaches will give these little guys the best start in life.
"All our collected litter information will go to the Australian Marine Debris Initiative database to help encourage source reduction discussions.
"Last year, 635 volunteers of all ages removed a massive 560 kilograms of litter from our beaches – and it would be great if we collected less than this as 560 kilograms was a big reduction from previous years.
"We would like to keep seeing this number go down because that means there is less litter lying around in our environment."
Register today via Sunshine Coast Council's What's On page and please remember to wear sun-safe clothing, enclosed shoes and help us make this a single-use plastic-free event by bringing along your own reusable water bottle.
This event is proudly run in partnership with Reef Check Australia, Unitywater, and SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium.
Clean up locations include:
- Point Arkwright (meet at BA 85)
- Marcoola (meet at BA 104)
- North Shore (meet at hut BA 134)
- Cotton Tree Park (meet at BA 137)
- Mooloolaba Beach (meet at SeaLife)
- La Balsa Park
- Warana North (meet at BA 232)
- Warana South (meet at BA 237)
- Wurtulla (meet at BA 248 - Dorothy Anderson Park)
- Currimundi (meet at Buderim St Carpark)
- Moffat Beach (meet at Eleanor Shipley Park)
- Happy Valley (meet at BA 296)
- Dicky Beach (BA 267).
Registration is now at capacity for the following sites:
- Bokarina (meet at BA 241)
- Buddina (meet at BA 201)
- Coolum (meet at BA 72)
- Shelly Beach (meet at Victoria Tce car park)
Registrations are open at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/clean-up-for-the-hatchlings-tickets-131415028889
Our community can also have a say on the upcoming Shelly Beach to Moffat Beach Coastal Study which seeks to understand our community's perspectives on what is valued about this section of our coastline.
Sign up for information on how you can provide your feedback at haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.
