2022-11-14 GC Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Draft Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan

Connectivity
Many urban dune networks are narrow and closely surrounded by urban development, much of
which almost entirely prevents the safe movement of native animals and plants through them.
Landscape connectivity to bushland away from the coast is often entirely prevented or very limited,
and internal connectivity is often compromised by clearings, development, paths, and fences.
Connectivity within a natural area, and to other natural areas, can be critical to allowing native
plants and animal species and individuals to adapt to climate change. Allowing the movement of
individual and populations of species allows them to seek the changing location of climatic (e.g.,
exposure, temperature, moisture) and environmental conditions (e.g., hydrology, pH, salinity,
ecosystem) they need to survive and maintain viable populations.

Breaks in internal connectivity will be identified in Council’s Bushland Operational Assessment
(condition) mapping, and remediation where possible planned in ecological restoration planning.
Potential external linkages to other bushland will be identified via desktop mapping and confirmed
during nearby condition mapping processes. Securing and remediation of these areas shall be
planned during nearby ecological restoration planning.

Changing ecosystems and plant and animal distributions
Climate change can affect or change the ecosystems, ecosystem characteristics and the location
and distribution of plants and animals. Observed and likely regional ecosystem and other shifts due
to climate change should be acknowledged and incorporated when setting ecological restoration
targets, developing planting lists and conducting other ecological management activities.

Sea Turtles
Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta)
Green turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Loggerhead turtles and green turtles nest and hatch on the Queensland coast at Noosa - both are
endangered at State, National and International levels. They are found around the globe, travelling
massive distances between their inshore seagrass and seaweed feeding sites and sandy beach
breeding grounds each year. Hatchlings and young turtles drift in the open ocean for years, eating
small animals in and near patches of floating seaweed. They start breeding between 10 and 30
years of age and can live up to 70-90 years. While they mostly live in the ocean, some land-based
threats can affect them, particularly during nesting and hatching (Nov-Feb).

Land based threats to turtles
Eroded foredunes: If the frontal dunes are too steep turtles won’t be able to climb them. They are
more likely to lay their eggs at the foot of the dunes, where they are more vulnerable to flooding,
getting washed away or crushed by vehicles.

Foxes, wild dogs and domestic dogs: They sniff out the eggs, dig them up and eat them.

Hard plastic, soft plastic, inflated and burst balloons look like food to turtles: They can block
and fill turtle stomachs and intestines, causing starvation, illness, and death. Biodegradable plastic
and balloons still cause problems as they don’t break down quickly or reliably enough, and often
break down into microplastics. Beach and ocean plastic and litter mitigation is discussed further
below .

Light: Baby turtles move towards the brightest light they can see, thinking it is the moon shining
over the ocean. They are easily confused by artificial lights on the land that penetrate through to
the beach, and may end up lost in the dunes, in drains or on roads. Nesting female turtles are
discouraged from laying on lighted beaches and may also be confused by light when returning to


Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan – Draft (V4 26.9.22 – for public consultation)      Page 15