Queensland's vast coastline extends for thousands of kilometers, and its beaches are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike who appreciate their rich natural and cultural values.
While many people drive and camp along some of Queensland's coast, inconsiderate four-wheel driving can cause immense damage to vegetated dunes and wildlife, including protected migratory shorebirds and marine turtles.
Recognising the importance of supporting the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef and the wildlife that depend on it, the Bundaberg's Four-Wheel Drive Club (B4WDC) developed a behaviour change campaign as part of their 'Driving in the right direction' project. The campaign aimed to enhance the Club's members' knowledge and awareness of marine turtles, and increase community involvement in coastal and marine stewardship activities.
B4WDC campground. Credit: B4WDC
The project included a field day at Wreck Rock with Turtle Care Volunteers Queensland and Gidarjil Development Corporation. Here, members had the opportunity to learn more about turtles, their threats, cultural significance, and the importance of conservation and stewardship for our environment and the Reef.
Brad Praed, Secretary of the B4WD Club, stated: "The field day enlightened Club members on the importance of treating the areas we visit responsibly, both by the impact of our driving and our camping styles, especially at the areas turtles frequent. The information gathered by Turtle Care Volunteers Queensland and the work they do to protect the nests from predation and environmental impacts is invaluable in keeping future generations of turtle numbers healthy."
The B4WDC promotes safe and responsible recreational four-wheel driving, following the Tread Lightly principles on both public and private land. The Club has a history of proactively engaging to improve the safety of its activities and has contributed to the development of codes of conduct that promote wildlife-friendly and sustainable use of the environment for the next generation of drivers.
Recording turtle predation with Wreck Rock Turtle Care. Credit: B4WDC
To protect turtles, B4WDC developed three simple tips as part of the campaign, which included videos and social media posts:
Plan your beach driving around the low tides. Travel on the hard packed sand. Staying low is the way to go.
Stay off the beach at night during turtle season. Light from vehicles and torches disturb nesting turtles and confuse hatchlings.
If you camp near the foreshore, keep your camp lights low to let the turtles go. At your campsite, use the bare minimum of light needed. Try and set your camp up so the lights are shielded from the beach.
At the end of the project, a survey was completed by Club members to determine how successful the campaign was in increasing awareness, engagements, and stewardship for marine turtles. The survey revealed that 71% of people increased their understanding of how lights by torches and vehicles disturb nesting turtles, and 29% changed their behaviour to reduce impacts on nesting turtles (e.g. driving only during the day, reducing lighting in campsites, and sharing knowledge with others).
Respondents had a very positive attitude towards the project with one respondent stating: "Well done on the videos and your campaign. I found them informative and engaging and hope you can do similar educational videos in the future. Congratulations Bundaberg 4WD Club."
Sorting marine debris. Credit: B4WC
Gidarjil Welcome to Country. Credit: B4WDC
Sue Sargent, B4WDC Project Officer, shared: "B4WDC members have always been protective of the local environment, participating in the annual K'gari Marine Debris Clean-up and leading the way with their codes of conduct over a decade ago. This project provided them with the opportunity to connect with other community groups, learn more about marine turtles and then provide practical advice to four-wheel drivers. The campaign also generated a lot of interest from other clubs around the state. What we learned is that everyone can contribute to stewardship of the Great Barrier Reef in their own way - we can all make a difference."
Brad added: "The Club actively promotes responsible four-wheel driving, with an emphasis on looking after the environment we traverse. If we all take responsibility, we help keep access open for everyone to enjoy."
This project was developed through the Community Action Plan Program, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
