Sunshine Coast residents are set to help ensure turtle hatchlings have a safer path to the ocean.
The Sunshine Coast Council, in partnership with Reef Check Australia, Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation, Noosa Council and Bribie Island Environmental Protection Association, has invited locals to get involved in the 12th annual Clean-up for the Hatchlings on Saturday, January 31, from 6am.
The annual event includes early morning beach clean-ups from Coolum to Caloundra and Bribie Island, to remove debris that poses a threat to nesting turtles and their hatchlings.
Councillor Tim Burns said the event would be a way for residents to contribute to local conservation efforts.
“We’re proud to be a turtle-friendly community, and this experience is a chance for people of all ages to take direct action to protect our coastal wildlife,” he said.
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“So far this nesting season, we’ve recorded 52 nests laid across our beaches.
“By removing debris, we’re helping ensure these hatchlings have a safer journey to the ocean.”
The nesting season runs from about November to and hatching period runs from about November to January, while the hatching season runs from about January to March.
The clean-ups will start at 6am. Volunteers will then be thanked at a gathering at Coopers Lookout Park at Buddina, where they can enjoy a free barbecue, educational displays, and family-friendly activities, from 7.30am to 10.30am.
Volunteers have been encouraged to register online, by searching ‘Clean-up for the Hatchlings’ on the council’s website.
The event is single-use plastic-free, and participants are asked to bring reusable items, enclosed footwear, gloves and sun protection.
The collected debris will be weighed and sorted to demonstrate the tangible impact of the community’s efforts and help identify where waste comes from, encouraging long-term reduction.
Clean-up locations include Coolum Beach Point Arkwright, Marcoola Beach, North Shore Beach at Twin Waters, Cotton Tree Beach, Mooloolaba Beach, Mooloolah River at La Balsa Park (limited snorkel clean up), Buddina Beach, Kawana Beach, Warana Beach North, Warana Beach South, Bokarina Beach, Wurtulla Beach, Currimundi Beach, Dicky Beach, Moffat Beach, Shelly Beach, Happy Valley and Bribie Island North.
