Toxic Contamination and Dead Mangroves at Boambee Creek

Mural, Solitary Island Coastal Walk, Bonville creek

Recently we observed  'A Cooked Intertidal Ecosystem at Sawtell Beach'. Today's local paper (Coffs Coast News of the Area) reports about 'Dead Mangroves at Boambee Creek'

The Boambee Creek Estuary is just north of Sawtell and south of Coffs Harbour airport. The creek traverses the suburbs of Boambee, Sawtell and Toormina, many roads and highways, industrial estates and resorts till finally it reaches the Pacific ocean.

The shoreline of the Boambee Creek Estuary and Boambee Beach is used as a playground for fishermen, dog owners and SUV owners.

Recently Kirsten Benkendorff (Professor at the National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University) and a Gumbaynggirr ranger of the Traditional Owners (Indigenous Protected Area Sea Country program) discovered the dead mangroves and neurotoxic contaminants at Boambee Creek.

"Most of the mangroves were rotting and the mud underneath was black and stinking and no live forms were visible. There was a smell of sulphur and petrol." 

"There was a range of toxic chemicals in the rotting mangrove roots, including carbon disulphide and petrochemicals like naphthalene, furan, xylene and cresol...Many are neurotoxic to the eyes, skin and lung."

"The site is not safe for people or aquatic life." (Coffs Coast News of the Area, 24.11.2023)

Update:

New research led by Southern Cross University has found a cocktail of nasty pesticides in oysters and water from one of the NSW North Coast’s dominant rivers. 12.12.2023
https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/that-really-shucks-pesticide-pollution-threatens-shellfish-safety 

Pesticide residue from farms and towns is ending up in fresh oysters, 13.12.2023

https://theconversation.com/pesticide-residue-from-farms-and-towns-is-ending-up-in-fresh-oysters-219395

The old camp mural, Coffs Harbour, (no longer exists)

dl

A Cooked Intertidal Ecosystem at Sawtell Beach

Along Sawtell beach to the north, just before the Murrays Beach stairs is a big pipe socialising the terrestrial runoff from suburbia. The coastal pollution leads to some rocks on the beach making up the intertidal ecosystem. As a tough rocky interface between the sea, the land and the sky they provided rich pickings for pied oystercatchers and other shorebirds.

Run off pipe with eyes

The eutrophication from land leads to algae blooms covering the intertidal rocks. Green slime smothers the area. Adding the thermal stress of 'the hottest October on record', the intertidal animals, such as barnacles, limpets and tube worms were all cooked.

At the horizon a fisherman is gathering bait.

Little Terns or Pigs Will Fly and Sawtell Dogs will be on a Leash

Where the coastal town of Sawtell meets the National Park, Little Terns have their breeding grounds. The endangered Little Terns (Sterna albifrons subsp sinensis) have been nesting in this area for a log time. They like to make beaches, sand spits and sand islands near rivers, creeks and coastal lakes and mouths of estuaries their homes. Every spring and summer the migratory seabirds have been raising their families along the Australian coastline.

“Little Tern nests are a simple scrape in the ground, sometimes lined with feathers and eggshells. The highly exposed hatchlings are very susceptible to predators from both introduced and native species, as well as disturbance from human activities.” (source)



"Nesting sites are usually located where humans swim, walk, exercise dogs, picnic and drive off-road vehicles. The mere presence of people on the beach may cause these terns to desert their eggs and eventually leave the colony altogether" (source)

Unchecked coastal urbanisation spreads 'the package' (McMansions, roads, multiple pets and lawns) into all 'scenic' coastal places. The sprawling want-to-be Sydney culture rejects the specificity of the local environment.

Not long ago there were 70 separate breeding colonies in NSW, but today there are only 15 sites left in NSW. (source) Roaming dogs and their lawless pet owners are one of the main threats to the continuing existence of the bird.

"It had also been disappointing to see the number of people taking dogs into the little tern breeding compound on Bongil Spit, south of Sawtell Headland….The locations where the little terns are nesting are clearly signposted and dogs are prohibited from entering national parks at all times due to the threat they pose to native animals...The law allowed for an immediate fine of $1500 and people found with dogs within the national park could expect an on-the-spot fine of $300." (source)

The forest of signs, the absence of enforcement and the paltry fine do not repel the enthusiasts of introduced canines from making the wildlife refuge a dog loo.

Rangers even have to expect aggressive responses from dog-walkers if they point out the law to pet owners. 'Dogs Breakfast' and appeals to the local population are there to 'raise awareness' of residents that have already 'voted with their feet' for pets. For birdwatchers or bushwalkers it seems outright dangerous to approach people that are wilfully breaking the law.

Images:
Sawtell, aerial photo
Little Terns, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Hawksbill turtle, Bonville Headland mural, Sawtell

Update:
A car drove through a seabird community, leaving injured and dead birds lying on the sand.  A "crested terns had to be euthanised by the vet because its wing had been smashed to pieces" Cars on Airforce Beach at Evans Head. 08022017

Severe storms on mid north coast unusually consistent

"The Weather Bureau says consistency of recent severe storms on mid north coast is 'unusual'

The Bureau of Meteorology said it is unusual to have so many severe storms on the mid north coast at this time of year....Afternoon thunderstorms have struck parts of the coast every day for the past week....Many parts of the region have already exceeded their average monthly rainfall for November....Forecaster Michael Logan said storms at this time of year are to be expected but not quite as many...."But to have every afternoon for a week back to back to back without a break is pretty rare."...The Dorrigo Plateau was covered in a blanket of white after a severe hailstorm yesterday afternoon."  abc 191113

Sawtell Hail Storm 161113
Hail storm in Bellingen 131113

Sawtell Hail Storm

Toormina and Sawtell battered by mid-afternoon hailstorm 16.11.13
Severe weather: alert for Coffs Coast and eastern seaboard. Golfball-sized hail has been reported at Bellingen. (again!) 16.11.13
Massive hail buckets down on Queensland's Sunshine Coast abc 16.11.13 
Hail damage to Coffs Coast worst outside metropolitan area 17.11.13 
Weekend hailstorm on the Coffs Coast causes millions of dollars worth of damage 18.11.13 
Hail at Sawtell November 16, 2013, 18.11.13 
Dorrigo's town centre has been blanketed in hail as a severe thunderstorm continues to track over the coast. 18.11.13
Dorrigo hail storm - 181113 
Sawtell hail,16.11.13 video

And here we go again 21.11.14 
Brisbane hail: "We had to run to get out of there, the speed of the hailstones were like bullets. The place looked like a warzone." 281114 

2021:"Apocalyptic" hailstorm. Hail up to 30cms deep in the Coffs Harbour region. The roof in Toormina mall collapses and turns into a waterfall. Any link to climate disruption?