Sunshine Coast Council is investigating the alleged deliberate poisoning of two sensitive coastal environments.
About 250sqm of trees and shrubs in the Buddina Beach Foreshore Reserve have been destroyed at beach access 202, off Pacific Boulevard.
A similar incident has happened at Currimundi Lake.
The council is investigating both cases and has installed a large warning sign at each location to highlight the damage and send a clear message that environmental vandalism will not be tolerated.
The location of each sign has been selected to minimise any further impact on the environment and community safety, and will remain in place until the sites have regenerated.
Councillor Joe Natoli said senseless damage had far-reaching consequences.
“Buddina Beach is a vital nesting location for critically endangered loggerhead turtles, with data revealing nests are laid in and around this location each season,” he said.
“Trees and shrubs in the dunes help to prevent light shining onto the beach, which is called light pollution.
“Light pollution deters female turtles from laying and bright artificial light near nesting beaches can disorientate hatchlings, leading them away from the sea and toward inland areas and roads, decreasing their chances of survival.”
Cr Natoli said each location had been lovingly cared for by hundreds of local volunteers either through BushCare, TurtleCare or at marine debris clean-up events.
“In the past 12 months, BushCare volunteers have spent almost 200 hours working hard to conserve the Buddina dunes, which are an important part of our coastline,” Cr Natoli said.
“And this season, TurtleCare citizen scientist volunteers have contributed more than 2200 hours, which is more than 13 weeks, to the ongoing survival of critically endangered turtles by monitoring nesting mothers, relocating nests if necessary for hatchling survival, and providing essential data to support this protection of these majestic animal.”
Councillor Tim Burns said it was a similar story at Currimundi Lake, where volunteers had put in 335 hours protecting the well-loved lake and nature reserve.
“Countless hours have been donated over many years by community groups – like the Currimundi Catchment Care Group and Friends of Currimundi Lake – and local people who help conserve the lake and clean up at initiatives such as Clean Up Australia Day,” he said.
Cr Natoli has asked members of the community to help find the culprit or culprits by providing evidence of the identify of the offenders.
“Council is investigating both sites and we are calling on the local residents to help,” he said.
“Our natural environment is part of what makes the Sunshine Coast so special and if convicted of illegal damage, people can face significant fines of up to $131,580 from council, and more if found guilty under the Queensland Environmental Protection Act.”
Anyone with information on the destruction at Buddina or Currimundi Lake, or who has noticed suspicious vegetation damage occurring in council-managed reserves or parks, should phone the council on 5475 7272.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
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