Who let the cats out?

They may seem like friendly members of the family but cats can be ferocious hunters and a threat to native animals.

Cats on the Surf Coast are endangering native wildlife, which is why it’s so important that owners keep their pets inside at night.

President of local environmental volunteer group, Friends of Point Addis Marine National Park, Bronwyn Spark says that people need to keep an eye on their cats, especially at night.

The Surf Coast Shire imposes a curfew for cats between 8pm and 6am to help reduce the number of attacks on native animals, such as this unfortunate galah.

“As native marsupials are nocturnal most people don’t realise cats are threatening them.

“Cats are problematic because you can’t see them and they threaten bird nests and small native animals,” she said.

Have you seen any feral cats in your neighbourhood?

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Coastal Reserves Manager Mike Bodsworth says the coast’s unique native wildlife is under threat on a number of fronts.

From cats and foxes to litter and road traffic our coast is a minefield of dangers for local wildlife.

“From cats and foxes to litter and road traffic our coast is a minefield of dangers for local wildlife.

“It doesn’t take much to help to minimise such threats so that our native animals have the best chance of survival, and keeping your cat indoors is just one of the ways you can help,” he said.

For more information about threatend species on the Surf Coast click here

The Surf Coast Shire has implemented a ‘cat curfew’ to reduce the impact feral cats are having on native animals.

Under the curfew cats must be confined to the owner’s premises between 8pm and 6am daily.

To read about the Surf Coast Shire’s cat curfew click here

The council can seize cats found roaming in any public area or outside their owner’s property in this period and cats seized and not reclaimed within eight days may be destroyed.

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Brian McKiterick says its important owners register their cats.

It is particularly important that all cats are registered and are confined during the curfew hours; for their welfare and for the sake of native wildlife.

“It is particularly important that all cats are registered and are confined during the curfew hours; for their welfare and for the sake of native wildlife.

“Cats that are allowed to roam at night can have huge impacts on our environment and are also in much greater danger of being lost or hit by a car.  I urge people to be responsible and look after their pets,” he said.

Under the Domestic Animal Act the owner of a cat found at large can be fined $100 for the offence and up to $300 for further infringements.

Click here to check out the Australian Government’s fact sheet on feral cats.

For more information about the cat curfew or if you notice any lost or feral cats in your neighbourhood contact the Surf Coast Shire ph: (03) 5261 0600, email:info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au or visit their website www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au

 For more information on how you can protect native wildlife on the coast, visit www.gorcc.com.au.

This column appeared in the Surf Coast Times fortnightly Green the Coast Column.

Do you have any suggestions about how we can reduce the number of feral cats on the Surf Coast?

We’d love to hear from you!

An update on our little ‘Hoodies’

Birldlife Australia volunteers and the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) are happy to report that the ‘Hoodie’ chicks at Point Roadknight will be ready to fledge at the end of this month.

GORCC Coastal Projects Manager Mike Bodsworth said there were two remaining chicks at Point Roadknight.

“The two chicks are being monitored by Birdlife Australia volunteers and will fledge at the end of the month should they survive,” he said.

Hooded Plover photo taken by Dean Ingwersen

Hooded Plover chicks face many threats including feral animals, dogs and accidental trampling by beachgoers.

Mr. Bodsworth said GORCC has erected bigger signs in the no dog zone in an effort to get coastal users to do the right thing.

“The area is fenced, but unfortunately there has been continual issues with some people not adhering to the regulations and signs in place,” he said.

It’s important we all look out for ‘Hoodies’ along the coast to ensure chicks such as those at Point Roadknight are protected from threats.

Want more information?

More on Hooded Plovers click here

Volunteering with Birdlife Australia click  here.

Read an article about Hooded Plovers which appeared in the Surf Coast Times here.

Here’s something to think about.

Have you seen the Hooded Plovers at Point Roadknight or spotted any other ‘Hoodies’ on the coast?

Are you interested in volunteering to help protect the ‘Hoodies’?

We’d love to hear about your experiences with our little ‘Hoodies’.

Help clean up the coast

Have you noticed any rubbish on the coast? Here’s an opportunity for you to do something about it!

Clean Up Australia Day is held annually and this year we’ve registered a site in Jan Juc.

We will be cleaning up from 10am to 12pm on Sunday the 4th of March.

Where can you clean?

We’ll be picking up rubbish at the Bird Rock car park and surrounding areas. To view a map of the area click here.

There are other sites on the Surf Coast where you can get involved in Clean Up Australia Day.

- Point Impossible Nude Beach 10.30am-12.30pm click here for more info.

- Bells Beach 10am-12pm click here for more info.

How do I sign up?

We’d greatly appreciate your support, register now and you can go into the draw to win a prize! Register at www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au or phone 1800 CUA DAY.

What does Clean Up Australia Day involve?

It’s simple really, meet us at the Bird Rock car park at 10 am and help us pick up rubbish for a couple of hours.

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) site supervisors will helping all morning.

What should you bring?

Just yourself, we will be providing all equipment. If you have a pair of gloves please bring them along, we will be suppling some gloves for people who don’t have a pair. Make sure you bring a hat if it’s sunny, and a coat if the weather is not as favourable.

We will also be providing water and sunscreen.

GORCC conservation officers with volunteers at Clean Up Australia Day 2011.

If you’re busy on Clean Up Australia Day and can’t make it to the site there are plenty of other opportunities for you to get involved in volunteering on the coast. Click here to view some of the volunteer groups, there’s sure to be one in your area.

Have you registed a site for Clean Up Australia Day? Are you interested in helping us clean up the Jan Juc foreshore area? Let us know how you’re helping the Surf Coast environment.

Beachgoers and dunes at risk

It might seem like fun but playing in sand dunes can not only destroy these areas but can be dangerous.

Coastal conservationists are sending out the message- stay safe and keep out of the dunes!

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) Coastal Projects Manager, Mike Bodsworth said running and jumping on dunes could be great fun but caused serious damage to the vegetation which holds the dunes together.

It might look like fun, but playing on the dunes is prohibited to preserve native vegetation along the Surf Coast.

Have you noticed anyone entering the dunes in your area?

“Dunes that are stripped of native vegetation commonly develop ‘blow-outs’, or large gullies of wind-blown sand.“Over time these gullies become larger and are extremely difficult to rehabilitate,” said Mr. Bodsworth.

Torquay Coast Action (TCA) is a local group dedicated towards shaping, restoring and maintaining the environmental integrity of coastal dunes.

TCA President Glenda Shomaly, said the fragile dunes, desperately needed to be looked after, and that plants were vital to the future of the dunes.

“It doesn’t take much to loosen the vegetation holding the dune together and kill the roots causing erosion and ‘blow-outs’,” she said.

Mr. Bodsworth said playing in the dunes could not only threaten the natural environment but there were hidden dangers for beachgoers as well.

It’s common for objects like sharp sticks, stones, wire and glass to lurk amongst soft dune sand and we are concerned for the safety of people playing in the dunes.

“It’s common for objects like sharp sticks, stones, wire and glass to lurk amongst soft dune sand and we are concerned for the safety of people playing in the dunes,” said Mr. Bodsworth.

Have you noticed any dunes which are developing gullies or blowouts?

Ensuring kids utilise the designated areas such as playgrounds and reserves on the foreshore will prevent further damage to the fragile coastal dunes. Click here for location maps of playgrounds and reserves on the Surf Coast.

Surf Coast Shire local laws prohibit access to dunes unless on designated pathways, the laws apply to all fenced and unfenced sand dune areas.

Where an area is unfenced, the ban applies to the entire sand dune starting from the bottom part closest to the sea.

The vegetation on the dunes holds them together when this vegetation is destroyed the dunes begin to recede.

“You can help to protect our dunes and stay safe by staying to designated paths and tracks, and staying off the dunes,” said Mr. Bodsworth.

For more information about protecting the dunes and our coastal environment visit the GORCC website www.gorcc.com.au.

TCA conduct regular working bees, for more information or to volunteer contact Glenda Shomaly on 5261 6266 or click here to visit the GORCC volunteers page on our website.

This column appeared in the Surf Coast Times fortnightly Greent the Coast Column.

Your input into the management of the coast is much appreciated and we’d love to hear from you.

Illegal dumping damages sensitive coast

Rubbish is being illegally dumped on our beaches and coastal reserves, causing harm to the environment and threatening coastal flora and fauna.

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC), Outdoor Works Supervisor , Phil Brown, said illegal rubbish dumping was a regular occurrence on the Surf Coast and that sometimes people were unaware they were breaking the law.

“Disposing household waste in the bins around the foreshore areas is illegal.

Great Ocean Road coast Committee Outdoor Works Supervisor, Phil Brown with a piano that was illegally dumped near the Point Impossible nudist beach in Torquay.

When people dispose of their rubbish in the public bins the bins become full and overflow which is a serious problem.

“When people dispose of their rubbish in the public bins the bins become full and overflow which is a serious problem,” he said.

Not only is rubbish being dumped in public bins but dangerous materials from construction sites are being dumped by some contractors.

“Contractors have been incorrectly disposing of rubbish including large slabs of concrete at Point Impossible and other quiet areas where they think they won’t get caught,” said Mr. Brown.

Rod Goring, GORCC Coastal Reserves Manager said there were serious health risks associated with the unsafe disposal of rubbish from construction sites.

“The unsafe disposal of asbestos, in particular, poses a serious threat to the health of the community and the environment,” he said.

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Coastal Reserves Manager Rod Goring with rubbish dumped illegally by contractors.

John Foss from the Surfrider Foundation said the negative impact of rubbish dumping on the coastal environment is huge.

“People often throw large items such as fridges into the Anglesea River and Spring Creek and when it rains the rubbish is washed down the river and onto the beach,” he said.

The Surfrider foundation holds regular beach clean ups where they sometimes come across car and truck tyres dumped on beaches.

Mr. Foss said the last thing people want to find on the beach is rubbish and it was important that people dispose of rubbish in bins or take it home with them.

Our beaches are beautiful places and people should take care to remove their rubbish properly.

“Our beaches are beautiful places and people should take care to remove their rubbish properly,” he said.

If you notice any illegal rubbish dumping or to report any rubbish or litter contact the GORCC office on 5220 5055, or the Surf Coast Shire on 5261 0600. To get involved in the Surfrider Foundation, call 0408 386 812.

This story appeared in a fortnightly column in the Surf Coast Times called ‘Green the Coast’.  The column is an opportunity for community members and environmental and volunteer groups to raise awareness about all sorts of issues, news and events relating to the coastal environment.

Have you seen any illegally dumped rubbish on the coast?

Plunging in for fish count

Grade five and six students from Lorne Airey’s P-12 are donning snorkelling gear and heading to the Lorne Pier  to take part in the Great Victorian Fish Count (GVFC).

The annual event sees hundreds of volunteer divers and snorkelers plunge into Victoria’s marine waters every December to help survey and monitor important reef sites.

Watch this YouTube clip about the GVFC.

 
Video: Roger Fenwick

Lorne Airey’s P-12 teacher Suzie Reeves said staff and students were excited to be part of the event, which helps to discover which fish species live in Victoria’s temperate coastal waters.

“It’s a great experience for the students and it’s important they learn to appreciate and take stewardship of the local marine environment.”

“It’s a great experience for the students and it’s important they learn to appreciate and take stewardship of the local marine environment.

Blue Groper Photo: William Boyle

“We are the first school to initiate a site, initiating the Lorne Pier site in 2009 in conjunction with Eco-Logic, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee,” she said

Ms. Reeves said the students would be working in pairs with a qualified snorkelling instructor to count  fish using underwater slates to record species and numbers.

“By logging our results on the Reef Watch website, we will have an estimation of the structure of fish communities at that time, which can then be compared to future fish counts at the same time each year,” she said.

Reef Watch Coordinator Wendy Roberts said the project, which is run as part of the Victorian National Parks Association’s Reef Watch Program, is the largest community-led ocean monitoring program in Victoria.

“Last years fish count lured more than 400 divers across 22 locations and we expect this year’s event to be even better.

Students from Lorne-Airey's Inlet P-12 College are helping monitor the states fish stocks as part of the Great Victorian Fish Count. Photo: Gary Barclay

“The volunteers that make the project possible are very important because they bring to the surface information on the fish species that can be found along Victoria’s coasts,” said Ms. Roberts.

Ms. Roberts said Victoria’s marine environment was incredibly unique, with more than 85 per cent of species living in our southern waters are not found anywhere else on earth.

“The waters around Victoria are so rich in marine life they rival the Great Barrier Reef for biological diversity.

“This underwater world is facing mounting pressures from threats such as overfishing, pollution and invasive species.

“Take the Blue Groper for example, which was recently placed under temporary protection in 2011, divers in the GVFC this year will be on the look out to see what numbers are out there,” she said.

Event organisers welcome  anyone interested in diving, snorkelling, marine ecology or conservation to get involved and are  always looking for more volunteer divers and snorkelers.

To get involved phone Wendy on 03 8341 7446 or email info@reefwatchvic.asn.au.

This article appeared in the Surf Coast Times fortnightly ‘Green the Coast Column’

Were you or anyone your know involved in the GVFC?

Are you involved in monitoring reef sites on the Surf Coast?

We’d love to hear about your experiences!

Rare visitors threatened by waste

Rare native birds have been sighted in the Spring Creek Estuary and conservation groups are calling on the community to assist in their protection.

Great Egrets and the Caspian Terns, both on the Victorian Government’s advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, have recently been sighted feeding in the Spring Creek Estuary.

The Great Egret has been spotted at the Spring Creek Estuary recently

The species are both vulnerable to the hazards of plastic waste, which is estimated to kill up to one million sea birds, one hundred thousand sea mammals and countless fish each year.

Sean Dooley, Editor of Wingspan Magazine said the feeding habits of wetland birds made them especially vulnerable to being caught in discarded fishing line.

“Discarded fishing line is a threat to these species as they feed in estuaries which are popular fishing spots and often fishing line gets caught around their beaks and necks and suffocates them,” he said.

 “Discarded fishing line is a threat to these species as they feed in estuaries which are popular fishing spots and often fishing line gets caught around their beaks and necks and suffocates them.”

Graeme Stockton from local conservation group Surfers Appreciating Natural Environment said species like the Great Egret and Caspian Tern were facing extremely strong competition from people and development pressure.

“These species are unnecessarily stressed by storm water pollution and littering,” he said.

Nevertheless, Mr Stockton is optimistic. He notes how the local community ‘stood up for Spring Creek’. “I think there is an inherent understanding by most people here of nature’s overlapping role in our own wellbeing.”

“The Great Egret and the Caspian Tern areren’t commonly found in the Surf Coast area so it’s important that people understand how lucky we are to have such rare birds come and visit us, it’s a privilege that they choose to   use Spring Creek as part of their home range.

“The Great Egret and the Caspian Tern aren’t commonly found in the Surf Coast area so it’s important that people understand how lucky we are to have such rare birds come and visit us, it’s a privilege that they choose to use Spring Creek as part of their home range,” he said.

Caspian Terns have also been sighted in the Spring Creek area.

ZOO’s Victoria’s new ‘Seal the Loop’ campaign will see  special bins placed at ports and piers around Victoria’s coastline to help facilitate the responsible disposal of fishing waste by recreational anglers.

Ben Sanders, Zoo’s Victoria Community Conservation Officer said the campaign aimed to reduce marine wildlife entanglement rates and raise awareness of the threats that plastics pose to marine wildlife.

“The bins are being offered free of charge to any organisation, council or group who wish to install them, this phase of the program is being funded by the Victorian Government using recreational fishing license fees,” he said.

Coastal users can look out for ‘Seal the Loop’ bins placed at various popular fishing spots along the foreshore by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC).

This article appeared in the Surf Coast Times fortnightly ‘Green the Coast Column’. To visit the Surf Coast Times website click here.

To learn more about the Seal the Loop campaign  click here, for more information about native birds visit the Birds Australia website, click here. If you would like to learn more about coastal conservation and local marine life visit our website, http://www.gorcc.com.au/.

Have you spotted any endangered native birds in the Surf Coast region lately?

Are you  involved in protecting native wildlife?

We’d love to hear from you!

Precious babies on our beaches

Beachgoers are being urged to look out for precious Hooded Plover nesting sites on our beaches as the ‘Hoodie’ breeding season gets underway.

Volunteer Hooded Plover monitors have sighted nests at regular breeding site Point Roadknight and at new breeding site Fairhaven.

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee is committed to protecting Hooded Plovers  

www.youtube.com

Dr Grainne Maguire, Project Manager for the Beach-nesting Birds Project at Birds Australia said that Hooded Plovers were classed as a vulnerable species in Victoria, but that new breeding sites indicated that numbers were increasing slightly.

“At last count in November 2010 there were 569 adult birds in Victoria, where previously there were around 450,” she said.

Torquay Landcare Group volunteer and volunteer ‘Hoodie’ monitor Alison Watson monitors the Hooded Plovers at Point Roadknight daily, which is the Surf Coast’s regular Hooded Plover breeding site.

“Despite the many threats faced by the species, there has been an average of two fledgling chicks at Point Roadknight each season and there are currently two nests on the beach,” said Ms. Watson.

 “Despite the many threats faced by the species, there has been an average of two fledgling chicks at Point Roadknight each season and there are currently two nests on the beach.”

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) Conservation Officer, Georgie Beale said the new Fairhaven site was an exciting discovery but that it was a dangerous location for the beach nesting birds to breed.

“There are two eggs in the Fairhaven nest, but Fairhaven is a dog and horse beach and this poses a significant threat to the vulnerable chicks” she said.

Georgie Beale (Great Ocean Road Coast conservaiton officer), Mike Weston (Deakin University) and Glen Ewers (Birds Australia) release a Hooded Plover at Point Roadknight after branding it.

Hooded Plovers breed during the busiest time of year for our beaches making it difficult to protect the eggs and chicks.

Ms. Watson said it could be easy to step on the eggs or chicks if people weren’t looking out for them.

“It’s important that people walk along the water’s edge as the Hooded Plovers nest around the high tide mark,” she said.

Hooded Plover

GORCC’s work to protect the Hooded Plover includes working with Birds Australia to coordinate volunteers, installing signs to alert people to nesting areas, establishing protective fencing around nesting areas and carrying out regular beach patrols.

Ms. Beale said even a disturbance from people or animals could drive the adult birds away from their nests and chicks.

“You can help protect the ‘hoodies’ by making sure that your dog is always on a leash on beaches where Hoodies have been found, and by observing the warning signs,” she said.

If you would like more information or to get involved visit the GORCC website www.gorcc.com.au , phone (03) 5220 5055, email info@gorcc.com.au or visit the Birds Australia website, www.birdsaustralia.com.au.

This column featured as part of the fortnightly ‘Green the Coast’ column in the Surf Coast Times. 

Have you noticed any other Hooded Plovers or Plover nests on the Surf Coast? We’d love to hear from you.

Illegal destruction of native flora

Our fragile coastal environment is being impacted by the illegal removal of native vegetation.

Georgie Beale, Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) Conservation Officer said protection of the limited areas of natural flora remaining on the Surf Coast is of great importance.

An example of the damage that cam be done to coastal flora following the illegal removal of native vegetation.

“Unfortunately, few individuals choose to destroy the very reason that people choose to live on the coast.

“The thin strip of habitat between houses and the beach is the last piece of vegetation of its kind on the Surf Coast and we should be protecting and enhancing it, not destroying it,” she said.

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Cr Dean Webster said the removal of native negatively impacts on the Surf Coast community.

“Native trees and vegetation on public land are an important part of the Surf Coast’s appeal.

“Native trees and vegetation on public land are an important part of the Surf Coast’s appeal.

“Attacks on vegetation are acts of environmental vandalism that have no place on the Surf Coast. Replacing native vegetation takes a lot of time – established trees and plants can’t be suddenly replaced and the effects on our community can be significant,’ he said.

Mike Bodsworth, GORCC Coastal Project Coordinator said the native vegetation around Jan Juc, Anglesea, Airey’s Inlet, Fairhaven and Lorne gives these towns their distinctive character.

 “Removing plants affects the quality of the natural environment and impacts on those people using public reserves for recreation as they are confronted with stark views of houses rather than views softened by vegetation.

 “People who are found to have damaged native vegetation face severe penalties but catching perpetrators in the act is difficult,” he said.

“People who are found to have damaged native vegetation face severe penalties but catching perpetrators in the act is difficult.”

The illegal removal of native vegetation is an offence under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee act 1997 and fines of $6107 apply for breaches of the act.

“Anybody who observes removal of native vegetation along coastal reserves is urged to contact the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee or the Surf Coast Shire,” said Mr. Bodsworth.

For more information or to report any illegal removal of native vegetation, contact GORCC on (03) 5220 5055 or the Surf Coast Shire on (03) 5261 0600.

 This article appeared in the Surf Coast Times fortnightly Green the Coast column.

Volunteering on the coast this Summer

As the warmer weather arrives it’s the perfect time to get active and involved in volunteering on the Surf Coast.

Are you interested in coastal conservation? There’s plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in volunteering. Volunteering is a perfect way to get fit and meet new people while enjoying the natural environment.

Cleaning up the beaches for Clean Up Australia Day

Our precious coast needs your help, depending on which area of the Surf Coast you live, there’s an opportunity for you to volunteer close to home. To  find out about volunteer groups on the Surf Coast click here.

Not interested in joining a volunteer group? Our website provides many more ways you can help the environment. Click here to learn more about coastal conservation opportunities near you.

Do you know of any other opportunties for the community to become involved in coastal conservation? We’d love to hear from you.