What can I do to help?

Press release click here

Thank you for your concern regarding the recent tragedy along the Sunshine Coast. Our role as concerned citizens it to help where we can through the appropriate channels. Please be active in reporting the presence of oil or injured wildlife to the appropriate agency. Surfrider Australia has compiled the relevant information here. Help along the Sunshine Coast is still needed!

Maritime Safety Queensland is the lead agency for managing marine pollution and coordinating the cleanup efforts. Emergency Management Queensland, the Environmental Protection Agency and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service are managing the wildlife cleanup efforts.

Reporting

Maritime Safety Queensland is the lead agency for managing marine pollution and coordinating the cleanup operations. For more information, go to http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/. <http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/>

Reporting potential pollution: Any potential pollution sightings should be reported to Marine Safety Queensland at +61 7 3120 79496 (leave a detailed message with as much information as possible).

Reporting emergencies: For after hours emergencies use the following numbers to report marine incidents and marine pollution:

Gold Coast         +61 7 5539 7373
Brisbane             +61 7 3305 1700
Gladstone           +61 7 4973 1208
Mackay              +61 7 4956 3489
Townsville          0419 553 313
Cairns:               +61 7 4052 7470 or 1300 551 899

Reporting injured wildlife: Any injured or oiled wildlife sightings should be reported to the Environmental Protection Agency at 1300 130 372.

Oil-affected wildlife can be dropped off at the following locations:

Sunshine Coast North:
Marcoola Surf Life Saving Club
64-76 The Esplanade, Marcoola

Sunshine Coast South:
Kawana Surf Lifesaving Club
99 Pacific Boulevard, Buddina

Bribie Island:
QPW Ranger Base
White Patch Esplanade
Bribie Island

Volunteering

The Queensland government is urging people to stay out of restricted areas to allow the pollution response to progress smoothly.

Wildlife: The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is accepting volunteers to assist with affected wildlife. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Potential volunteers should call the Queensland Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) hotline at 1300 264 625. Volunteers should leave their name and phone number, list any experience with oil wildlife training, provide availability, and refer specifically to a wildlife volunteer log (if applicable).

Land Rehabilitation: SEQ Catchments, a community based business that aims to restore natural resources, is coordinating land rehabilitation efforts. Volunteers should call 07 3211 4404 or email admin@seqcatchments.com.au.

Status Updates

Beach closures: Currently, the following beaches are closed on the Sunshine Coast: Dicky Beach, Currimundi, Wurtulla, Kawana, Twin Waters, Mudjimba, Discovery Beach, Marcoola and Boardwalk. All beaches on the eastern side of Moreton Island from Cape Moreton to Rous Battery are also closed.

Updates: For updates on beach closures, clean up and general enquiries, call the Maritime Safety Queensland Hotline at 1800 216 723.

Oil Spill on Sunshine Coast raises serious concerns over local environmental disaster management

Two hundred and fifty tonnes of oil spilt off Moreton Island, on Wednesday (11th March 2009), has affected 20 km of Sunshine Coast beach. The spill was caused when Hong Kong cargo ship Pacific Adventurer was damaged in cyclonic seas. Initial estimates of 20 tonnes of oil were well out of the range of the final figure of 250 tonnes.

Initially, heavy loaders and digging machinery were bought onto the scene to clear the oil. Due to misinformation, the EPA ordered council to remove this equipment and continue the clean-up with shovels and rakes. Concerns were expressed and a crisis meeting of relevant government officials was called for late Thursday to debate the issue. In the meantime, work on the spill site was put on hold. The end result of these talks was the Premier declaring the southern half of the Sunshine Coast, Bribie Island and Moreton Island disaster areas. The larger machinery was bought back onto the beaches to complete the clean-up.

The hardest hit areas were 10kms from Point Cartwright, and further south to Warana, Bokarina and Wurtulla beaches. Thick, black sludge coated wildlife, the coastline and formed a film on some dune vegetation and beach protection fences. Other oil has entered both Currimundi Creek and the Maroochy River before booms that were flown in to protect freshwater supplies could be put in place. Local council and Qld Parks and Wildlife cleaned-up North Shore’s Maroochy River Conservation Park, where oil had washed into 20 metres of bushland from the rivers edge.

Most Coast beaches from Marcoola to Bribie Island were closed on Friday as the oil spill workers went into damage control. As the oil was cleared, beaches were slowly reopened, with the southern end of Point Cartwright being the only area still closed on Tuesday (17th March 2009).

With worldwide coverage of the disaster issues of long-term costs to the tourism industry, as well as the on-going environmental impacts are being raised. Local businesses, marine-life and ecosystems are currently feeling the full force of the spill. The ship’s insurers are expected to pay the financial costs of the clean-up, with the shipping company being further liable for fines of up to $1.5 million. A full investigation is being conducted.

The oil disaster is considered the State’s worst marine pollution spill to date.

Surfrider Foundation Australia will continue to monitor this disasterous event, work with local government to ensure proper follow up, and seek more appropriate response protocols.