The culprits behind three cases of environmental vandalism along the waterfront on the Sunshine Coast are yet to be identified.
A year has passed since the Sunshine Coast Council announced it was investigating the destruction of trees and plants across an area about the size of two football fields in the Mudjimba-Marcoola Foreshore Reserve.
Testing revealed the vegetation had been poisoned with a herbicide rarely used on the Sunshine Coast.
Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said at the time that the product stayed in the soil for years and it could be some time before the vegetation recovered.
An update from a council spokesperson indicated the herbicide had continued to take a toll at Marcoola.
“Vegetation recovery continues to be monitored and recovery is patchy across the damaged area. This likely reflects the presence of herbicide residue,” the spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, further damage to vegetation has occurred on nearby areas. This has been confirmed through independent chemical residue testing.”
The loss of the vegetation left the beach exposed to artificial light, which threatens turtle nesting in the area from November through to May.
“Two temporary screens have been installed to help mitigate the impact of artificial light on nesting marine turtles and, to date, there has been one nest recorded north of the damaged area,” the spokesperson said.
By late July, the council launched investigations into further instances of damage to trees and plants in a 250sqm area at the Buddina Beach Foreshore Reserve and at Lake Currimundi.
The spokesperson said vegetation recovery continued to be monitored at Buddina and “again, recovery has been observed to be patchy across the damaged area”.
“This is what we would expect to happen due to the presence of herbicide residue,” they said.
“Unfortunately, the damaged area has expanded. This is likely due to the herbicide spreading through the sand and killing more vegetation.
“Council will continue to monitor vegetation health and may undertake further independent chemical residue testing.”
The spokesperson said damage to vegetation at Frank McIvor Park at Currimundi was targeted, and no further damage to vegetation had been observed since the erection of a vegetation damage sign.
Anyone with information about the destruction of the vegetation is urged to contact the council.
Suspicious vegetation damage in council-managed reserves or parks should be reported to the council’s customer services section on 5475 7272.
