Council gets beach ready for turtle nesting season
Date published: 24 October 2023
Turtles preparing to nest across Townsville are being given a helping hand by Council as teams have started dune remediation works.
The works help to replenish sand on the city’s northern beaches as well as The Strand.
Mayor Jenny Hill said it was important to step in to help turtles have a successful nesting season.
“Turtle nesting usually starts in November and runs through to March each year, with hatchlings making their way to sea between December and May. To successfully nest, turtles need a nice sandy beach, which is where Council comes in,” Cr Hill said.
“We’re able to make sure beaches where nesting occurs are prepared ahead of nesting season, allowing turtles to make their way onto the beach and create a nest for their clutch of eggs.
“Along with replenishing and shaping dunes at our beaches, we’ve also worked with Maritime Safety Queensland to install a groyne at Nelly Bay to reduce erosion and create an environment that turtles can nest at.
“In January last year we were pleased to have the Magnetic Island Network for Turtles note the first flatback sea turtle nesting since the Nelly Bay Harbour construction. This shows the remediation works Council is undertaking is effective and is helping to grow Townsville into a well-educated community that participates in protecting our natural environment.”
Queensland is home to six threatened species of marine turtles, including the Green Turtle, the Flatback Turtle, which are most frequently spotted nesting in Townsville, as well as the Loggerhead Turtle, the Hawksbill Turtle, the Olive Ridley Turtle and the Leatherback Turtle.
