The electorate office has been in contact with both QPWS and the Minister for Environment’s Office and received the following information relating to concerns around Turtle Egg laying in the Noosa National Park.
Granite Bay – Rocks Deterring Turtle Egg Laying
Points of relevance:
• Granite Bay is effectively a rocky shore with the annual extent of sand deposition varying dependant on constantly changing tidal influences.
• Visitors shifting rocks has been occurring at this (and other) locations around Noosa Headland for many years.
• Social media photos of rock stacks/images on the sand at Granite Bay go back many years.
• On 19 October 2018, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers cleared the beach of rock graffiti with assistance from some local volunteers.
• QPWS is currently patrolling Granite Bay three times per week to monitor and remove rock formations/stacks.
• It is impractical for rangers to be permanently patrolling Granite Bay in the context of the extent of other duties.
• QPWS is in the process of developing signage to educate and discourage visitors from moving/stacking rocks, which impacts the amenity of the natural environment and the visitor experience at Noosa National Park.
• QPWS contacted Coolum District Coast Care Inc. regarding turtles laying eggs at Granite Bay and it indicated that it had no records of turtles laying eggs at this location and in its opinion the rocky base would deter turtles from laying eggs at that location.
• Local QPWS staff concur with Coolum District Coast Care’s assessment as there is no knowledge of turtles laying eggs at Granite Bay beach.
Consultation
• Coolum District Coast Care Inc.