Newsletter Protection Committee Inc.

PO Box 2182 Ashgrove West QLD 4060 Phone 07 3321 1463

Print Post Approved PP414772/00002

Volume 28 No 4 October to December 2006

Moreton Bay Marine Park Natures Nursery, ’s aquatic playground Lissa Barr, Education Officer, Australian Marine Conservation Society

Moreton Bay Marine Park is a beautiful tapestry of quarter of the world’s shorebirds regularly migrate along islands, beaches, corals, rocky reefs and seagrass the east coast of Australia from as far north as the Arctic beds. The Park stretches 125 km from in Circle and Siberia and roost in the Park over the summer the north to the Gold Coast in the south and includes months. both sheltered waters and open ocean beaches and reefs. Moreton Bay Marine Park is truly a wondrous place, yet like other coastal areas around the world, its health and The Park sits in the transition zone of both tropical beauty is under threat from human related causes. waters and temperate waters and is a relatively Every year 200 turtles are found dead in Moreton Bay shallow marine environment. These characteristics, Marine Park. These threatened and endangered animals combined with a large input of freshwater from migrate thousands of kilometres across the world’s oceans coastal rivers, produce the Park’s complex yet fragile only to be killed in Moreton Bay by boat strike, fishing marine ecosystems and ’s most nets and plastic bags. Unfortunately, these are not the only important aquatic nursery. animals under threat in the Park.

Moreton Bay Marine Park is home to over 740 In the last 30 years, dugong numbers have plummeted by recorded fish species, all 6 species of turtles recorded more than 90% along our urban coast. In Moreton Bay 15 in Australian waters, whales, dolphins and dugongs. dugongs wash up dead each year. Once measured in herds Amazingly, the Park is the only place in the world several kilometres wide, we now count dugongs one-by- where significant populations of dugongs and turtles one. Accidental boat strike, pollution, marine debris can still be found close to a major metropolitan city. and fishing gear entanglements are killing these vulnerable mammals faster then they can reproduce. For the shark lovers, the critically endangered grey nurse shark can be found off Moreton and Stradbroke A loss of seagrass habitats, the dugong’s main source of Islands and stingrays absolutely abound in Moreton food, is also threatening the survival of these charismatic, Bay’s sheltered shallows. gentle mammals. Since 1987, over 20% of Moreton Bay’s Looking in parts more like the Florida Everglades, seagrass beds have been lost. Moreton Bay Marine Park is also a Ramsar wetland The critically endangered grey nurse shark is also under of international significance because of the migratory threat in Moreton Bay. Less than 500 individuals now birds that travel there to breed and feed. Over one exist continued on back page. Please take extra care of our Pied Oyster Catcher when driving on the beaches!!!! Moreton Island Protection Editor Alan Genninges, Phone 3227 6309 Printed 15th December 2006 Committee Inc. AGM apology PO Box 2182 Ashgrove West Moreton Bay Manager Dear Sir, 4060 meets MIPC executive. I regret I am a very inactive member www.home.acenet.net.au/mipc Greg Carter Moreton Bay Bay but I am impressed with the work email [email protected] Manager met with the MIPC you are doing. Phone (07) 3321 1463 executive on Sunday 10th, to update I fell in love with Moreton Island Executive Members us on Parks news and to discuss to when I got my 30ft mast head slop. President review the Cape volunteer program. I loved the overnight anchorage at Alan Genninges 33716887 We were all appreciative of Greg the sandhills and the walk over to Vice President giving up his time on Sunday night. the ocean beach. I was careful not Marissa Grant 3216 2377 Greg reported that he had received to lie down on the sand for fear of Secretary Beth Crawter 3371 several favourable comments about being run over. 1329 Assist secretary Nanette the Information Centre Volunteers I think I joined early on and went to Kempel Treasurer Pam from Parks visitors. Greg advised a few outings long ago including Schindler that he would be recommending the Blue Lagoon. Executive Committee program continue in 2007. Now at 86 years I have had to give Linda Back 3366 1292 my boat to my daughter in Sydney Susan Bedford Management Plan stuck because of poor eyesight. I have also Gordon Bennet 3399 6351 on Ministers desk. had to stop driving so it s difficult to Patricia Cavanagh get out on trips. I cannot get to Fort Following the re-election of the Janette Dovers Lytton for the next meeting but hope Beattie government MIPC wrote to Simon Fell-Smith someday I may be able to see it. the new Minister for Environment Dennis Maher 3369 1681 I wish you success in your efforts to and Multiculturalism The Hon. Lindy Statement of Aims keep the island beautiful, 1. To promote the preservation of Moreton Nelson-Carr MP. In response to Yours sincerely, Bill Horsfall, Island as a natural area to be managed for questions about the use of Moreton’s Toowoomba. public recreation and enjoyment, provided ground water as a water supply the The executive members all always that the recreational uses are Minister stated. consistent with conservation aims. appreciate the many notes of “The QPWS is aware that some encouragement that accompany 2. To foster the conservation of the vegetation, community members have suggested your membership renewals ,thanks!. fauna and natural features of Moreton. investigating the possiblilty of the 3. To facilitate public awareness and future use of Moreton Island ground appreciation of Moreton Island as a natural water to augment the greater Brisbane Tangalooma pledges area and encourage support for its preservation Water supply. Although QPWS has and management in accordance with these support for 2007 objects. not been approached to discuss this Tangalooma has pledged to issue, it would have grave concerns continue providing transport to 4. To co-operate with, or promote co-operation about the potential impacts and by any means with and among persons, trusts, Moreton and to the study site for the corporations, firms, associations, institutions, sustainability of such a project.” eel grass volunteers. The MIPC site governments, instrumentalities or government, We also asked when the management is one of the most remote in the Bay municipal authorities and other bodies in the plan would be released and the and so Tangalooma’s generous Commonwealth or its Territories or elsewhere Minister replied “The Queensland for the purpose of carrying out any object of assistance with transport is a most the organisation. Park and Wildlife Service (QPWS) valuable contribution to this project. has been developing a management 5. To oppose any development or usage of plan for Moreton Island with key Moreton Island which is contrary to the stakeholders, including your Editor’s note preservation and good management of the A special thanks to Patricia island in accordance with these objects. Committee, to set the future direction 6. Generally, to take such lawful action as it for important management issues on Cavanagh who arranged for Lissa considers necessary or appropriate in the the Island. It is envisaged that the Bar from the Australian Marine interests of promoting the preservation and Conservation Society to write the good management of Moreton Island in final management plan will be accordance with these objects. released in the coming months.” timely article about the status of The views expressed in this newsletter are not Hon Lindy Nelson-Carr MP Moreton Bay. necessarily those of the Moreton Island Having opposed the fish cage Protection Committee or its members. Minister for Environment and Contributions to this newsletter are welcome, Multiculturalism, project MIPC is well aware of the but the editors accept no responsibility for PO Box 15155, lack of meaningful protection alterations made to articles. offered by Marine Park status. Printed by Rex Leo ph. 3878 5248 City East QLD 4002 Probable Grassland Melomys sighting. to stories about these ancient mammals. Neville turned of In early September this year, whilst camping at the the motor and there they were: huge shadows under clear Little Sandhills on Moreton Island, a group of four of water, coming up to breathe, circling the boat. We us had an extended view of a small mouse-like counted 5, 10, 15, mother and calve ... At least 25 mammal, eating scraps and generally scrabbling animals. Wow! I still can't stop sharing my excitement around our camp in the early evening. We watched it with all people in my neighbourhood. Petra Janoschka in torchlight for several minutes getting a very good Parks fees paid by Tangalooma view of a round reddish brown body with long “To simplify the discussion, the landing fee for the stringlike tail, and one of our party suggested it may vehicles and the situation for visitors to Tangalooma be a Melomys. On consulting our ‘Wildlife of Greater have been excluded (Tangalooma ferries, as they do not Brisbane’ we confidently identified it from the photo land on the recreation area, do not need a recreation illustration as a Grassland Melomys (Melomys area permit to land on Moreton Island)” from Page 2 burtoni) especially as its habitat and range is stated as MIPC Newsletter Vol 28 No 3 ‘grasslands and heath fringes bordering swamps and In response to the above paragraph I would like to clarify mangroves on North Stradbroke and Moreton Island’. how Tangalooma fits within the new fees being charged We felt privileged to have seen it as it is described by the barge operators providing transport to the Moreton therein as ‘rarely encountered’. Island National Park, for the information of yourself and When reporting this sighting to Lisa Ford, all other members of MIPC. Conservation Officer for Moreton Bay District, she Tangalooma Island Resort is all private property and is was initially sceptical, offering that it was probably a not part of the Moreton Island National Park, as you Pale Field Rat (Rattus tunneyi) as she did not think would agree, visitors to Tangalooma not venturing into that the Melomys had ever been found on Moreton. the National Park should not be required to pay this fee. However, she agreed that if it was listed in the W of GB the Qld Museum must have record of a positive  All tours operated by Tangalooma into the identification. It’s hard to be absolutely positive about National Park, pay a per person fee that is almost our identification without a photo or specimen, but we as high as an over night camping fee. (An are sure the animal we saw was not a rat. Maybe its individual going on a Tangalooma Tour for a few time for a fauna survey at the Little Sandhills area to hours pays marginally less than a camper on the confirm this sighting, and see what else might be island for a 24hr period). I would surmise that you there. Linda Back would agree with me in that a camper would Seagrass Watch Report generally have a far greater impact on the National Four times per year we (one of many groups) survey Park than an individual on tour. This statement is eel grass sites in Moreton Bay. On Friday, 18 August, particularly highlighted bearing in mind that they Paul Finn eel grass watch coordinator, gave his time are under the supervision of an environmentally to further educate us to distinguish between two very conscious tour guide, just as they are when they are similarly looking seagrasses. He also installed a new on one of the day tours that you operate on the gadget to monitor temperatures at the site. For this Island. occasion, Neville (EPA Senior ranger), Michael (EPA  All in-house guests visiting Tangalooma in their ranger) and Paul Finn took us (Nanette and Petra) on own four-wheel drives do not receive any fee the rubber dingy from Raby Bay across to our site at exemptions. They pay the same as all other visitors Moreton. At Moreton, Linda and Phillip joined us to the National Park. This is only fair, as users using 4WD transport provided by Parks and Wildlife. should pay. Again, we were delighted to see the many, various  All Tangalooma vehicles that are used within the creatures/species in the mud flats at low tide such as, National Park are fully permitted at our choice by sponges, sea pens, anemones, tube worm, fan worm, paying the annual fee, even though some of these razor clams, top snails; nudibranchs and sea vehicles are exempted from this fee. cucumbers.  Last month was generally quiet for the Resort, yet After completion of our monitoring we awaited the we contributed just under $6,000.oo in tour bus rangers to pick us up by boat. Sadly, there was a dying fees alone to the EPA. passenger on board: a Loggerhead Turtle. She showed On another note, the resorts stance is that we agree with signs of starvation and may be, this was due to a MIPC on statements regarding ATV’s within the swallowed plastic bag. National Park and congratulate you on your efforts. The highlight of our return trip to Raby Bay was Regards, Trevor Hassard, Tangalooma. seeing dugong feeding on their precious seagrass (ed note; Trevor has been a long time member and Ovalis. I was extremely exited to see dugongs. After supporter of MIPC joining prior to his association with 7 years in Brisbane, I had so far only read and listened Tangalooma. ATV, quad bike by another name ) AGM Reports August 2006 Guest speaker carpet snake found dead with a dead cane toad in its Miles Yeates, District manager provided a report on mouth may be killing the individual toads before they various QPWS activities during the past year. breed. On the mainland the toads seem to advance as a Barge Agreements have been finalised with the wave apparently overwhelming predators by their large major operators of services to Moreton Island. The numbers. I appeal to everyone to keep a look out for establishment of a booking system for camping toads in any freight coming to the Island and also on the permits is still being set up but is not yet operational. Island itself. QPWS is actively fostering good relationships with traditional owners and seeking their input. Feral pig The majority of effort by our members has been numbers are plummeting. This is due mainly to the volunteer work on Moreton. I would like to take this baits that have been laid in sites where feral pigs are opportunity to thank the executive for giving up Sunday active. nights to attend the monthly executive meetings. Special Visitor infrastructure has been has been improved. thanks are also due to those who keep the organizational The North Point campground has been completed wheels turning – checking phone machine and emails, and is now operational. Composting toilets have been maintaining member ship lists and keepings the books in installed. Solar pumps have been installed in several order. A special thanks to Dennis who is largely areas including Ben Ewa, Comboyuro and North responsible for the rapid sell out of the 500 copies first Point. Brochures and signage are gradually being edition of Sands of Time. Reports from representatives improved. Several monitoring programs are of the volunteer projects follow. underway – shore birds, dugongs and turtles and Grey Alan Genninges Nurse sharks. Miles also spoke about QPWS goals Sea grass survey Since March 2003, several MIPC for the coming year. members have been undertaking a survey of Seagrass He concluded with a presentation by JCU researcher beds on the western side of Moreton Island. The site is Amanda Hodgson. This consisted of aerial footage of located at the Kounungai Red/White Light south of dugong herds in Moreton Bay, and clearly showed Tangalooma between the big and little sandhills. It is boats traveling over several dugongs. The footage surveyed three times per year. The actual site is 50metres was obtained from cameras mounted on a blimp over x 50metres. Information is recorded from 11 x 1 square the bay. The most stunning footage was of a mother metre quadrats along each of 3 transects (33 quadrats). and calf separated by a slow moving launch. The These surveys assist in monitoring the health and type of separated calf panicked and in trying to rejoin its seagrass and record the incidence of Lyngbya present at mother went straight under the launch in shallow different times of the year. Seagrass monitoring is co- water exposing it to propeller strike. ordinated by EPA and a number of sites are surveyed in Moreton Bay. This is part of an ongoing Australia wide Presidents Report and worldwide seagrass-monitoring programme. MIPC is sponsored by Tangalooma Resort, which provides Through lobbying MIPC and our members have been transport to and from the island and the survey site. trying to ensure that the management plan will Trish Cavanagh adequately protect Moreton Island. Of major concern is the fact that after several years, the Weeds programme MIPC members have been Management Plan has still not been approved. In undertaking weeding activities on Moreton Island for 1988 the MIPC newsletter announced that Mark many years. I have volunteered to co-ordinate a MIPC Gough, from QNPWS had been set the task of project and to prepare a comprehensive project plan for developing a management plan for Moreton Island QPWS. Various weeds will be mapped, the weeds over the next 6 months. Eighteen years later and removed or treated and the sites monitored for re growth we’re still anxiously awaiting the release of a and/or re infestation. (For further details see Janet’s management plan for Moreton Island. article in MIPC’s previous Newsletter, July 2006) On a more positive note the absence of a cane toad Janet Dovers population on Moreton is nothing short of a miracle. Information Centre Volunteers It has now Masses of cane toads have been on Fraser, been nearly two years since Greg Carter (Snr Ranger - Stradbroke and Cooloola for years. Cane toads have Moreton Bay District) first suggested to me the idea of been found on Moreton Island, but evidence to date MIPC members providing a volunteer force for QPWS suggests they have not yet bred on the Island. Why principally with the object of regularly manning the has Moreton remained toad free despite several Information Centre situated in one of the old lighthouse individual toads making it to Moreton. Part of the keeper houses at Cape Moreton. This culminated in answer may be the largely undisturbed condition of February this year with a training day conducted by Moreton Island. Moreton’s predators such as the QPWS officers, here at , attended by 20 keen MIPC members, with a couple more, not able to the Rangers' Base at Ben-Ewa. One of our long-time come along on the day, expressing their intention to members and keen volunteer, Merv Tyler, has indicated be involved. Subsequent reports in newsletters and by his willingness to. help with the initial planning and word of mouth, from those who have taken part in physical labour involved in the nursery set up. I will be the `on site' training weekends which followed at the working with him and Greg Carter on the `Project Information Centre, have drawn further interest and Proposal and Work Plan' which, we hope, will result in an enquiries from potential participators, so we are active seed collection and plant propagation program developing a solid base of volunteers to draw from; a providing a steady supply of endemic, native vegetation very pleasing outcome so far. Once `inducted', to for regenerating degraded areas in the Park. remain listed as an active volunteer requires a Sincere thanks to everyone who has committed their time minimum time commitment of one weekend per to this project, especially Greg Carter for his year. A long term aim is to have volunteers staffing encouragement and support and Katya Thompson the Information Centre on weekends all year round. (Interpretive Officer) for her help at the Information The training day at Fort Lytton was mainly an Centre. All the rangers stationed on the Island and the introduction to the staff, and management set up of staff at Cleveland have been particularly friendly and co- the Environmental Protection Agency and QPWS, operative and I look forward to a continuing, mutually how volunteers fit into a government system, and beneficial arrangement. Linda Back what are their responsibilities, commitments and Treasurer’s Report MIPC is in better shape expectations. All this information is set out clearly in financially than one year ago. The main reason for this is the `Volunteer Manuals' which are issued to the publication of Shifting Sands – Memories of Moreton individuals when they commence duties at the Island. Although the loss this year is similar to last year, Information Centre. The 'on-site' training sessions we have accumulated stocks at cost of over $3,750 concentrated on becoming familiar with the various dollars. When sold this income will be more than offset items of equipment located in the Information Centre the loss this year of $2,503. office, and on safety and emergency procedures. Income 2005 2006 It is not a requirement that volunteers be very T shirt sales 78 738 knowledgeable in all matters concerning Moreton Donations 348 951 Island when they are manning the Information Conservation activities 1260 2525 Centre. Enthusiasm and a commitment to caring for Oral history project 0 6532 the Island are the most valuable credentials. Memberships 905 1180 Primarily, they are providing a point of contact with Interest 257 378 the general public which is becoming harder for Total income 2848 12304 departmental staff to maintain as the administrative burdens of their jobs increase. To assist volunteers in Expenses answering questions from visitors, the Centre office Auditing fees 770 605 has excellent resources in the way of reference Bank charges 18 2 books, and an online computer through which they Depreciation 23 0 can access the Department's website. Some members Donations 45 45 have already taken it upon themselves to research Conservation activities 885 2122 some topics raised by visitors. Insurance 871 930 Miles Yeates has recently given permission for us Misc 271 also to be able to display and sell our oral history Printing newsletters 1021 571 book, `Shifting Sands: Memories of Moreton Island' Postage and stationary 489 460 at the Information Centre whilst our volunteers are Oral history project 177 8870 on duty. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to T shirt supply 510 824 promote this excellent publication and the Telephone 294 204 information contained therein has even greater Subscriptions 20 74 relevance when available from the historic site of Total expenditure 5393 14807 Cape Moreton. My sincere thanks to Miles for his support in this regard. Net profit (Loss) loss $2546 loss $2503 I am also very pleased to report that the scope of Balance sheet as at 30th June activities which can be carried out by volunteers 2005 2006 when on duty at the Cape, has broadened to include Cash at bank $17,147 $14,644 helping with a Weed Control Program, co-ordinated Stocks held at 30 June 2006 by Janet Dovers, or with a project to re-locate and T/Shirts at cost estimate $750 utilise the plant nursery (basically a shed, and some Sand of Time at cost estimate $3000 irrigation equipment) which has been languishing in Estimated value of stock at cost $3,750. Pam Schindler What’s on …....!!! Ph 3321 1463 National Parks Day 2007 The National Parks Association affiliated groups meeting March 31 to 1st April 2007 National Parks for 2007 will be held on the weekend before Easter; 31 Association Affiliated groups meeting hosted by March/ 1st April . The Fraser Island Defenders FIDO at Elanda Point Organisation (FIDO) is hosting the event at Elanda Point.

Continued from Page 1 Moreton Bay Marine Park Natures nursery, Brisbane along the east coast of Australia, yet we continue to Currently, only 0.5% of Moreton Bay Marine Park is kill them with fishing and shark control measures, highly protected in a no-take Marine National Park. such as shark nets. In 2007, the Queensland Government will carry out a 10 But all is not lost. Moreton Bay Marine Park can still year review of Moreton Bay Marine Park. This process remain a wonderful aquatic paradise if we act now. offers us the exciting opportunity to ensure that the health and productivity of Moreton Bay Marine Park is restored The world’s marine scientists are recommending that and its marine species are protected for future generations between 20-50% of each marine habitat type in our to enjoy. oceans must be highly protected in marine national You can help us at critical times by becoming one of parks. If we can do this, we will secure the long term our treasured email Ocean Activists. Visit the health and productivity of special places like Australian Marine Conservation Society website to learn Moreton Bay Marine Park. more and sign up as a Moreton Bay Ocean Activist – www.marineconservation.org.au/moreton bay

What are Marine Parks? A multiple use Marine Park is an area that allows people to do most things within the park including extractive activities such as mining, fishing and collecting. What are Marine National Parks? Marine National Parks (also known as green zones, protection zones or marine reserves) are places where all marine wildlife and their habitats are highly protected from extractive activities (e.g. oil and gas exploration, fishing). Marine National Parks have the same protection given to plants and animals in National Parks on land. Does the public have access to Marine National Parks? Yes - The general public has access to Marine National Parks - to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, sail, carry out research or any other activity as long as it does not involve the removal of wildlife.