Here is a follow up letter from Russell Constable about the situation at Cowley Beach......
Dear Mark, Bill, Paul and CEO (CCRC)
Firstly l would like to thank Mark Cacicchiolo (DERM) for getting onto Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service who have installed a warning sign at the beach and I thank you as well for your response Mark. I still have received no response from CCRC.
Dear Mark, Bill, Paul and CEO (CCRC)
Firstly l would like to thank Mark Cacicchiolo (DERM) for getting onto Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service who have installed a warning sign at the beach and I thank you as well for your response Mark. I still have received no response from CCRC.
Despite multiple signs at this location closing access to beach/dune system traffic was quite heavy on Friday.
Quad riders have smashed out bollards to give them access to the beach/dune track.
I visited this nesting site on Friday afternoon and was appalled to see fresh vehicle tracks running through the nesting site. Whilst filming these tracks a quad bike approached. They drove straight through the nesting area despite me vigorously waving them away at 5:00 of the video.
They also had an off leash dog in this sensitive nesting area. This individual may be known to many of you and was a member of the Cowley Beach Vehicle Advisory Committee so certainly should know their behaviour was inappropriate. I filmed this whole event as representatives of the CCRC have asked people to provide photographic evidence that this type of behaviour is occurring.
AGAIN I PLEAD THAT CONTROLLING GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES CLOSE THIS BEACH WHILST THESE BIRDS ARE NESTING AS THIS BEHAVIOUR WILL DRIVE THIS ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES AWAY OR RESULT IN THE LOSS OF BIRDS, CHICKS OR EGGS. THIS VIDEO PROVES THAT SIGNAGE (THOUGH APPRECIATED) DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT ENFORCEMENT AT THIS LOCATION. CLOSING COWLEY BEACH/DUNES TO VEHICLES WHILE THESE ENDANGERED BIRDS ARE NESTING IS ESSENTIAL IF THEY ARE TO BE PROTECTED.
