RECORD BREAKING BEACHCARE

It’s time again for a quarterly newsletter update about what’s happening on Gold Coast beaches and dunes with BeachCare. This year looks to be as exciting as 2013 with extra opportunities to learn about and care for the coast.

We recently met with Mayor Tom Tate to highlight the positive action taking place on the Gold Coast beaches and the progress of BeachCare. He was extremely impressed with all the efforts of BeachCarers volunteer and looks forward to attending an upcoming event.

It is with great delight that we can now say BeachCare has successfully hosted its first “Summertime” program. Summertime with BeachCare was a partnership initiative with Landcare Australia, Neutrogena Naturals and The Coca Cola Foundation. There were many events held over the summer holiday period including water testing, clean-ups and creek to coast plantings.

Thanks to the many BeachCarers who volunteered extra hours to lend a helping hand.

Another achievement includes reaching our mid year benchmark for volunteer participation. We have achieved 1000 community volunteered hours at BeachCare events, which means we are on target to achieve overall participation of 2000hrs by 30th June. Capturing this information forms part of our long-term strategy to understand coastal community engagement and how we can continue to develop BeachCare into a valuable and rewarding community initiative.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated and passionate BeachCarer volunteers. Who ensure Gold Coast beaches and dunes are kept Australia’s cleanest and at a world class standard.

Joel and the BeachCare team

Wooden Surfboard Expression Session!

Surfrider Foundation Gold Coast: Tweed Branch and Climate Wave Enterprises is hosting Eco Challenge Gold Coast (wooden surfboard expression session), which will take place on Sunday 16th March 9am - 1pm at Tomewin St, on Currumbin Beach as part of Bleach Boulevard. Native dune plants donated by BeachCare will be given to not only the best surfers on the day but also those who are having the most fun enjoying Currumbin Beach.

“This project evolved from a love of the ocean, surfing, community and sustainable events. We’ve met many people that have the same passion for the environment and community, and with this event we hope to highlight the advantages of thinking outside the square while developing projects that align with ethical standards to leave environmental and social legacies”, Said Greg Howell from Climate Wave Enterprises. For more information please visit facebook.com/EcoChallengeGoldCoast or ecochallengegoldcoast.com.

North Burleigh (beach end of Kelly Ave): Since 2011, BeachCarers have been looking after our North Burleigh site and over the last two years volunteered effort has enhanced the health of the dunes. In the coming year, Burleigh to Surfers Landcare will be leading the stewardship of the dune care efforts. This is exciting as they will be coordinating extra events in between BeachCare activities, whilst also attending scheduled events to learn how to care for the dunes. These events will also include awareness and social gatherings, watering and dune monitoring duties. The next event at North Burleigh will be on Clean Up Australia Day: Sunday 2nd March, 9 am-10 am.

Beach Cuttings Issue 46February 2014

BeachCare is proudly supported by

CONTACT BeachCare I 0414 762 374 I 5552 8829 I t: @Beach_Care I e: beachcare@griffith.edu.au

w: griffith.edu.au/coastal-management I f : facebook.com/beachcare.coasted

BeachCare Calendar 2014 Begins!Beach JAN FEB MAR APRIL MAY JUNE

Paradise Point (beach end of Abalone Ave)

Sun 2nd 9am - 10am Sat 10th

9am - 11am

Runaway Bay (Shearwater Esp)Sat 8th

9am - 11am Sat 24th 9am - 11am

Labrador (north of Charis Seafood)

Sat 15th 9am - 11am Sat 17th

9am - 11am

Broadbeach (beach end of Australia Ave)

Sat 15th 1:30pm - 3:30pm Sat 17th

1:30 - 3:30pm

North Burleigh (beach end of Kelly Ave)

Sun 2nd 9am - 10am

Sat 21st9am - 11am

Palm Beach (beach end of 27th Ave) Sat 8th

7am - 11am Sat 5th 9am - 11am

Currumbin (Duringan St/ The Alley)Friends of Currumbin Sat 1st

9am - 11am Sat 31st9am - 11am

Tugun(beach end of Wagawn St)

Sat 25th Jan 9am - 11am

Sat 15th 9am - 11am

Sun 2nd 9am - 10am

Sat 14th 9am - 11am

North Kirra (south of North Kirra SLSC) Sat 22nd

7am - 11am Sat 12th 9am - 11am

Rainbow Bay (Marine Pde)Friends of Rainbow Bay

Sat 18th 9am - 11am Sat 1st

1:30pm - 3:30pm Sat 3rd9am - 11am

Sat 7th 9am - 11am

Care for your local beach!

BeachCare is Gold Coast’s community dune care program facilitated by Griffith Centre for Coastal

Management in partnership with the City of Gold Coast. Activities are free, family-friendly & include

planting native dune plants, removing weeds & collecting beach litter. Please wear enclosed shoes & a hat.

griffith.edu.au/coastal-managment I facebook.com/beachcare.coasted I #Beach_Care I 0414 762 374

Flat Rock CreekSat 11th Jan 9am - 11am

Become a Burleigh to Surfers Landcarer!

Burleigh to Surfers Landcare was established in 2012 to lead community Landcare initiatives along this coastal strip. they will take stewardship of our North Burleigh site to support the long-term project to establish a healthier dune system.

They have recently launched a new website and Facebook page to recruit volunteers! With support from Councilor Greg Betts and the surrounding community, Burleigh to Surfers Landcare will ensure the adjacent dunes are looking their best! Like their page and contact them today to see how you can help out!

e: info@btslandcare.org.auf: facebook.com/btslandcare

Tegan is back : Our beloved BeachCare facilitator Tegan Croft is back after studying at the University of Leeds in the UK a for a university exchange experience.

After settling in at the university, Tegan began to get itchy feet and with the BeachCare spirit she sought out some local volunteering opportunities. Pleasantly surprised, she learned that Leeds University Union had its very own Conservation Volunteers Group, which held events every Sunday and most Wednesday afternoons.

A focus area of the group was a local spot known as the Woodhouse Ridge, where the group worked to remove invasive plant species, cleared out and deepened the existing pond, re-established and stabilised its banks, created fencing out of branches, planted oak tree saplings and pruned the overgrown areas. Unlike the beautiful Gold Coast beaches it was a contrasting experience working in a cold, wet and muddy environment, swapping her hat and sunscreen for gum boots and a raincoat. Be sure to ask her about her experience at upcoming BeachCare sessions.

GC Beaches Notice Board+ The younger Australian Coastal Society have just updated their website! If you are under 30 years old and would like to get more involved in coastal awareness projects please visit: youngeracs.org

+ Responsible Runners Gold Coast meet at The Spit every Wednesday at 5:30PM. Join in for a 30min fun run and help keep the beach clean.

+ Donate time, money or cotton towards the Boomerang Bag project at Burleigh Heads. Visit: boomerangbags.org

+ Clean Up Australia Day is almost here - Sunday 2nd March. BeachCare will be hosting events at Paradise Point, North Burleigh and Tugun. For more information please visit: cleanup.org.au

Contact Joel hayes if you’d like a post included on the noticeboard: joel.hayes@griffith.edu.au