Visionary Ocean Warriors is absolutely delighted to be supporting the turtle-y awesome Sunshine Coast Council beach clean up event on Saturday 29 January 2022.
Clean Up for the Hatchings is a FREE event run by the Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with
Reef Check Australia,
Unitywater and
SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium.
Since the beginning of time, sea turtles have been returning to the land to lay their eggs on beaches all around the world. While this approach has served them well in years gone by, today all sea turtle species are experiencing a range of human-induced impacts that are threatening their continued survival.
Help to clear the way ... Image: Kanenori to Pixabay License
The main species nesting on our local Sunshine Coast beaches are the Loggerhead turtle and less frequently, the Green turtle. Even though Australia's eastern population of nesting Loggerheads is only about five hundred nesting females, the Sunshine Coast's population of sea turtles continues to be a small but meaningful sub-population.
The countdown is on for turtle hatchlings to leave their nests and start their first voyage into the sea - such a mammoth task for these little creatures. I know Sunshine Coasters would be keen to help Nature's precious little bundles reach the ocean, and what better way to do this than ensuring these cute little hatchlings have a clear run all the way down to the water.
Image: Sunshine Coast Council FB
2022 marks the 9th annual clean up for the turtle hatchlings on the Sunshine Coast. The aim of this FREE awesome event is to encourage the whole community to come together to help clean up Sunshine Coast beaches, in preparation for the hatchling turtles to emerge from their nests across the coast. All the collected litter information will be passed onto the
Australian Marine Debris Database to be collated into a standardised national database on marine debris.
What can volunteers expect on the day?
The beach clean up will take place at numerous locations across the Sunshine Coast, from Coolum to Caloundra between the hours of 6.00am and 7.30am.
Following the beach clean ups, volunteers will be welcomed to weigh and sort the debris, listen to guest speakers and enjoy a FREE '
Thank you' BBQ along the coast. Please see list below for BBQ locations.
So cute! Image: confused_me > Pixabay License
Please select your preferred location from the list below, then
follow this highlighted link to register your participation.
Coolum (BA 72 - Lions and Norrie Job Park)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
Point Arkwright Lookout picnic area (BA 85)
FREE BBQ, weigh and sort for this location to occur at Coolum BA72 - Lions and Norrie Job Park
Marcoola (BA 104 - South of Marcoola Surf Club)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
North Shore Twin Waters (BA 134 - meet at hut)
FREE BBQ, weigh and sort for this location to occur at Marcoola (BA 104 - South of Marcoola Surf Club)
Cotton Tree Park (BA 137 - Corner of Second Ave and Esp)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
Mooloolaba Beach (meet at SeaLife)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
Buddina (BA 201 - opp north carpark at La Balsa)
FREE BBQ, weigh and sort for this location to occur at Coopers Lookout Park
Let me through, let me through! Image: Scottslm>Pixabay License
Coopers Lookout Park (BA 224 - south of Kawana SLSC)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
Warana North (BA 232 - John Hotton Park)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
Warana South (BA 237 - Neisler Park)
FREE BBQ, weigh and sort for this location to occur at Warana North (BA 232 - John Hotton Park)
Bokarina (BA 241 - Satinbird Park)
FREE BBQ, weigh and sort for this location to occur at Wurtulla (BA 248 - Dorothy Anderson Park)
Wurtulla (BA 248 - Dorothy Anderson Park)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
Currimundi (meet at park end of Buderim Street)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
Dicky Beach (BA 267 - next to Family Holiday Park)
FREE BBQ, weigh and sort to occur at Moffat Beach (Eleanor Shipley Park)
Moffat Beach (Eleanor Shipley Park)
FREE BBQ to be held at this location
Shelly Beach (Victoria Terrace car park)
FREE BBQ, weigh and sort to occur at Moffat Beach (Eleanor Shipley Park)
Image: Visionary Ocean Warriors FB
Check the above list to see if your location choice is one of the nine
'Thank you BBQ sites'. If not, check which BBQ site is allocated to your beach clean up location and then pop the date in your calendar and you're all sorted!
What to bring?
Please bring a hat, sun-safe clothing and suitable footwear.
As the Clean Up for the Hatchlings is a 'PLASTIC FREE' event (especially single-use plastics), volunteers are asked to please bring their own reusable items, wherever possible i.e. water bottle, coffee cup and gloves.
The organisers will have reusable gloves and clean-up bags for volunteers use at each location.
Let's ensure these cuties have a really good start in life - Image: Sunshine Coast Council FB
Show the love for our marine wildlife and register your interest for the
Clean Up for the Hatchlings and ensure these little cuties have a really good start in life - let's all put our hands up to save the turtles!
