Frying Pan out of bounds to traffic
22 August 2008
They’re supposed to be Noosa’s real celebrities, bona-fide high fliers that descend on Noosa for rest and relaxation.
They are the migratory birds who take a break from their inter-continental voyage to feed and rest.
A “do not disturb” sign was hung on the area near the river mouth last year but it seems a minority of people in four-wheel-drives are either unaware of, or take no notice of, the feathered travellers and drive on to the area known as the Frying Pan.
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association chairman Paul Willsteed said he had been made aware of drivers disturbing the bird habitat.
The Frying Pan is a 50-metre section of beach down to the river’s edge that is closed during the migration season.
Mr Willsteed said if people did not keep off the site there would be a push to have the section permanently closed. “They’ve got 80km of beach to fish off,” he said.
“We’re trying to keep vehicles and dogs off because these birds are resting there and if they don’t get their rest they won’t make it back to places they have to go to.”
A council local laws officer said drivers encroaching on the habitat area could receive a $150 on-the-spot fine and the courts could impose a maximum fine of $1500.
Meanwhile a telescope installed on the other side of the river to help the public learn about our international friends was vandalised just weeks after it was installed.
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