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5:57AM Sunday 23 November, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Mostly sunny min 17° - max 25°

Bribie dune destruction 'a disgrace'

2:24p.m. 8th May 2008

Nesting sites of endangered loggerhead turtles are being threatened by the lowering of dunes at Bribie Island to improve the views of homeowners, it has been claimed.

Opposition environment spokesman Dave Gibson said today it was a "disgrace" that the state government had sanctioned the destruction of the dunes at Woorim Beach.

He said the former Caboolture Council had lodged a development application with itself to carry out the work, and it had been signed off on by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“This government spends a fortune on spin doctors telling us how important it is to protect and care for the environment, but then condones this disgraceful act of environmental destruction and all so some people can have a better view.”

He said Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland had acknowledged in a radio interview that the dunes were being lowered to improve the views of homeowners adjacent to the beach.

He questioned of why the Environment Protection Agency had not intervened to stop the work.

“There’s something very smelly here. The state government has clear powers to call in development applications which are approved by local councils, in this case by the former Caboolture Shire, especially when there’s going to be damage to the environment.

“My understanding is the Premier was informed about this in early February and again last Thursday, but she’s taken no action.”

An empty loggerhead turtle nest was found within the area of beach which was fenced off for the dune work, according to Mr Gibson.

“I’m not an expert of loggerhead turtles but I’m told they don’t like to build nests where there is a lot of artificial light, and lowering the dunes will increase the artificial light, making it less likely they will continue to nest there.”

Mr Gibson said the dune destruction came hot on the heels of the decision to build a dingo fence at the Fraser Island settlements of Eurong and Happy Valley.

“Which beach is next?”

Loggerhead turtles at Marcus Beach

Recent Comments

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Posted by avatar from Maroochydore
on 8 May, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I heard that radio interview this morning, too.
It seems sutherland isn't too worried because no new loggerhead nests have been found on the stretch of beach.
Well, duh.
Somehow the wishes of a few self-interested residents have been allowed to take precedence over an eco-system, let alone the thousands of other residents from the area who visit the beach.
The central body to both this disaster and the dingo fence debacle is the apparent "approval" of the EPA in both cases.
Questions need to be asked as to whom or what this organisation reports and what its true function is.
Posted by vanga from caloundra
on 9 May, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'd build the dunes higher and put giant billboards on top reminding people that the simple minded wanted their view improved at the cost of wildlife.

Similar thing would go down nicely along the esplinade in Caloundra where the trees were poisoned to improve the view.

Second thought - better than just a billboard, have one opened for grafiti "artists" - so they can practice their vandalism in sight of those who want a perfect view.
Posted by cecelia from Bribie
on 12 May, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The Bribie Island dunes at Woorim Beach are being bulldozed to provide views for the Blue Pacific pub and AJ's. Their owners "pledged donations" of $20,000 each towards the works - reported in local media, November 2006. Some homeowners have already cut down vegetation to gain sea views. Others do not condone the practice. Australia Zoo staff have been feverishly saving little native animals in the wake of the bulldozers as habitat is destroyed. Environmental vandalism.

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