The Urunga Boardwalk Environment

Urunga is on the mid-north coast of NSW. The 'long place' of the Gumbaynggirr people is where the Kalang River, the Bellinger River, the Urunga lagoon and the Pacific ocean meet. A junction of mangrove forest, floodplain forests and coastal suburbia. The Urunga Boardwalk structure allows human access through these environments. A domesticated coast line that served to ship the extracted timber. Today rapid urbanisation and mobile sprawl (tourism) are the life blood.

The area is part of the Bellinger Heads State Park NSW. To the South, Picket Hill (Nunguu Miirlal) is a very distinctive landmark, the Great Dividing Range frames the North.



The walk starts at Urunga town where visitor facilities, their cars and dogs mingle with endangered birds.  Brahminy Kites are hunting and the endangered Beach Stone Curlews ( Esacus magnirostris) and Curlew sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea) make a nervous appearance.



The narrow wooden structure of the boardwalk is crowded with a procession of recreational anglers and their plastic gear. Pet lovers are encouraged to bring their dogs into this shorebird habitat. Even when the walk is not congested, various birds flee at the sight of even a quiet human presence. One is aware of the impact.

 
The mangrove ground is alive with marine life. The estuary stingray (Dasyatis fluviorum) inhabits shallow, mangrove-lined tidal rivers and estuaries. The endemic and "once-abundant estuary stingray has declined substantially across its range." (source) Living in shallow tidal and mangrove habitats, they are often killed by recreational anglers and shellfish farmers. Sometimes they are just mutilated. Habitat degradation and loss due to foreshore development are just a few of the anthropogenic impacts.



Links: 

Destined to decline? Intrinsic susceptibility of the threatened estuary stingray to anthropogenic impacts, CSIRO

National Parks warn of growing threats to endangered shorebirds on NSW North Coast, abc 27.10.2016

'Fantasy documents': recovery plans failing Australia's endangered species, Guardian 20.02.2018

Threatened Species, NSW gov au

Dasyatis and extinction risks, IUCN, pdf

Updates:

Dredging Urunga lagoon in times of sea level rise. Marine life (pdf) will be delighted by fossil fuel dredging. 'A win for a swim - finally', Bellingen Courier, 27.02.2018

Images:
Photos, Urunga public mural

The hills around Bellingen could burn for a year...

NSW Forestry Corporation will log, bulldoze and burn Tarkeeth State Forest. “Residents have been told by Forestry Corporation that waste vegetation would be bulldozed into windrows and burnt over a period of a year or more...Imagine the smoke pollution right across the Valley." (source)

Study indicates 'biomass burning' may play larger role in climate change than previously realized. "Based on aircraft observations, satellite data and models, the findings indicate 'biomass burning' may need to be addressed with future regulations. Following closely after COP21, the results could suggest a need to look at other sources of greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to industrial activities and fossil fuel combustion in industrialized nations." (source)

Smoke - "Globally around 340,000 deaths per year are thought to be attributable to the additional pollution from landscape fires. Ending deforestation by burning would have many benefits, not only for global climate and biodiversity but for human health too." (source)

Measuring air quality/ NSW clean air legislation EPA NSW

Smoke and dust sensors. Open source technology for citizens:
Low-cost sensors to measure air quality. Monitor the air you breathe. Nature 09.01.2015


Links:
The hills around Bellingen could 'burn for a year', Bellingen Courier, 22.02.2016

University of Maryland. "Fires burning in Africa, Asia cause high ozone in tropical Pacific: Study indicates 'biomass burning' may play larger role in climate change than previously realized." ScienceDaily, 13.01.2016. 

World Pollutionwatch: Wildfires can kill – far from the flames, Guardian, 31.08.2015

 Hazard reduction burning kills 

Updates:
Tracking forest degradation regarding carbon emissions. Amazon Satellite alerts track deforestation in real time, nature 23.02.2016 

How Forest Loss Is Leading To a Rise in Human Disease, Yale Environment 360, 23.02.2016

Land-clearing surge in Queensland set to wipe out Direct Action gains – report Guardian 29.02.2016

'Like a scene from a doomsday sci-fi movie': Flames burn through Tarkeeth Forest, Bellingen Courier, 24.04.2017

Image:
Eugene von Guérard, Bush fire between Mount Elephant and Timboon, 1857

Sewage discharge and shellfish don't mix. The Bellinger-Kalang rivers.

"One of the more pervasive aspects of European settlement was the pollution of the air and water." (source)

"The indications are that we will not have, inside the Bellinger-Kalang, an oyster industry within the next two years...” (source)

"The Aborigines on the coastal regions feasted on oysters and shell beds can be found in the many kitchen middens along the coast. Some of these middens have been carbon-dated to ten thousand years." (source)

Oyster growers on the NSW Mid North Coast are going to grow Sydney Rock Oysters in land-based tanks now to control water quality. "The Bellinger River was closed for 270 days last year due to heavy rainfall." (source)

Along the Bellinger River catchment and the Kalang River dense settlements sprawl along that are not on any sewer system. The majority of the rural blocks are on an on-site sewage management system (OSMS).

In 2008 sewage bacteria really hit the filter feeding oyster beds. "The NSW Food Authority closed the Kalang River at Urunga in August while a search was made for norovirus, which causes gastroenteritis in humans." (source)

Sewage discharge and shellfish don't mix
"The Bellingen Shire Council says septic systems in the river catchment have been identified as a possible source of the pollution...One of the potential contamination sources are privately operated onsite sewage management systems." (source)



Aquaculture farmers have been waiting for seven years for the Kalang River to reopen to oyster harvesting. "Protracted river testing, analysis and meetings began with riverside septics found to be high on the list of culprits, especially on Newry Island and along Urunga’s Atherton Dr." (source). Additionally the "Urunga sewage treatment plant, holiday cabins, two caravan parks adjacent to the river." were also mentioned as sources of contamination. (source)

After the endemic totem of the river, the Bellinger River turtle has been pushed into extinction, the question of water quality and river health is an acute one for the entire catchment.

Updates:
Dairy growth in north-west Tasmania causing concern for oyster farmers: effluent run-off from farms. abc 13.08.2015


Images:
Beert, Osias, Still life with oysters, c. 1610
Bellingen tiles

Hungry Head Beach Going to the Dogs

Cars shoot through Hungry Head Road, killing wildlife to get to the beach or lookout quickly.

Coastal sprawl pushes into the endemic bush sprouting lawns and exotic flora, fauna and packs of dogs.

At the beach off leash dogs run riot, most pet owners are entertaining 2-3 often large dogs. The dogs urinate and defecate as they go along the beach. Large packs of dogs roam the dunes for any possible Australian wildlife surviving there. Sunseekers do not seem to mind baking in the drenched sand.

Severe erosion, 2- 3 m high the sand has washed away. Very large wildlife supporting banksias collapse onto the beach. Black Cockatoos feed in the last remaining tall trees.
The Surf Life Saving Australia building seems to be melting into the beach. A few rocks thrown at the supporting stumps might not halt the sea level rise.  Collapsed stairs will soon provide easy access for motorists and their dogs again.


At all points of entry are huge signs that dogs are not allowed in this delicate area. The pet owners arriving via fossil fuel power to empty their dogs where others swim or surf must be either illiterate or lawless.

Enforcement does not seem to go further than the signs as with each year the number of exotic canines relieving themselves seems to double.

Gone are the days of Bluetounge lizards racing over the beach sand, sea shore birds resting or even nesting. Biodiversity is sacrificed to a monoculture of 'man and his best friend' from suburbia.

There is always a slight unrelaxed feeling walking along the beach as it is really a highway. Fast and powerful SUVs fly in all directions endangering the life of walkers, beach users and wildlife.

Update:
Wild dog pack ‘hunted’ down grandmother at Casuarina beach, NSW 24032015

See
Valla Nature Reserve and Urbanisation