Concerned Mackay citizens and community groups are requesting Mackay Regional Council intervene to stop the destructive use of vehicles on Harbour Beach and the East Point track which endanger Mackay’s nesting turtles and their hatchlings as well as significant resting and nesting birds. 

Currently vehicles, (4WDs, quad bikes, motor cycles) drive along East Point track and Harbour Beach by day and overnight when Mackay's vulnerable flatback turtles come ashore to nest in the dunes and sometimes in the tracks.

This activity creates unpredictable and rough terrain, endangers the turtles' lives and disorientates them. Once the hatchlings appear these activities can cause disorientation, luring them away from the ocean, putting them at great danger from being run over or taken by predators.

Vehicle ruts cause adult and hatchling turtles to expend more energy than necessary thereby increasing their vulnerability on land and when they are in the ocean.

Vehicle lights interfere with turtles' natural guidance system: for adult females systems used to identify ideal nesting habitat and for hatchlings helping locate the ocean.

Vehicular traffic is also damaging the fragile dune system causing loss of ideal nesting habitat.