Baby turtle, the one that got away https://youtu.be/OItHMVKkjHE

We must protect our endangered turtles and other wildlife on Bribie Island's beaches. It takes 25 years for these little critters to swim to South America and back, and only one in ten thousand survive to find their way home to nest. Every year several thousand hatch on our beaches, but they are getting caught in deep tyre ruts. If they are killed before they even get off the beach the statistics are even worse. So we are saying let's take care of our beaches better, and save the turtles for future generations to love. There are other places for 4WD vehicles, which don't cause damage to an internationally protected sanctuary, and the Queensland State Government can help by working with motorists to save these endangered animals.

This citizens of Queensland petition draws the Minister's attention to the following:

In 2008, without any consultation with affected publics, the State and Federal Governments agreed to set aside the environmental protection provisions for Bribie’s beaches, and declared some 12km of Bribie’s ocean-side beaches as a “highway” under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995.

From just a handful of vehicles in 2008, traffic on these beaches has grown exponentially.  It is estimated that more than 65,000 vehicles drove on those beaches in 2019, and the volume is increasing. Bribie residents observe that this traffic is totally out of control, and has made it unsafe for low impact leisure activities in those areas. Much of the worst damage is being done at night.

There is currently no management plan in place for Bribie’s national parks (including these beach areas). Until a management plan is put in place, the petitioners request the following:  

1. DRIVING ON BRIBIE’S BEACHES BE PERMITTED ONLY DURING THE PERIOD FROM 6AM TO 6PM, AND BE PROHIBITED FROM 6PM TO 6AM

2. DRIVING ON BRIBIE’S BEACHES BE PERMITTED ONLY ON THOSE HARD-SAND AREAS BELOW HIGH-TIDE, AND BE PROHIBITED ON ALL SOFT-SAND AREAS ABOVE HIGH TIDE

3. DRIVING ON BRIBIE’S BEACHES BE PROHIBITED IN THOSE PLACES AND AT THOSE TIMES WHERE SUCH DRIVING WILL IRREVERSIBLY IMPACT THE HABITAT OF RARE AND/OR ENDANGERED SPECIES

Additional important information:

Queensland is the only State that allows beach four wheel driving in Ramsar-protected areas, and the only State that allows beach 4WD’ing with no limits on numbers or time of day.

Archaeological studies confirm that Bribie’s beach areas are significant for First Nations people. The eastern beaches were a major travel route for First Nations people travelling from what are now the offshore islands to the mainland for significant gatherings. Aboriginal artifacts are regularly found along these beaches.

Bribie Island’s ocean-side beaches are being actively eroded. Numerous studies show that any beach 4WD’ing will destroy the habitat of any species that are resident in those areas, and will make those beaches far more vulnerable to erosion.

4WD’ing is occurring on those portions of Bribie Island’s beaches that are habitat for a number of rare and/or endangered species.

The intention was to allow campers beach access to campsites at the top of Bribie Island. However, those campsites can be accessed via an existing alternative route through the middle of the Island. Legislated protections being ignored include the Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,  Nature Conservation Act 1992, Recreation Areas Management Act 2006, and Marine Parks Act 2004. 

No Management Plan is currently in place for Bribie Island’s National Park areas which include the beaches. The development of a management plan for this area has been mooted for at least 10 years with little progress to date.

Principal petitioner:  John Oxenford   16 Cypress Avenue, Woorim, Qld   4507

Photo by Richard Segal from Pexels