Byron Bay attracts visitors from around the world who come here because of the natural values that have been destroyed in their own homes. Shamefully some visitors seem intent on trashing our home as well.
Our coastal birds that roost and nest around the mouths of Belongil and Tallow Creek estuaries are being harassed into extinction.
We have 17 species of migratory shorebirds, such as the Little Tern, that depend on our estuaries as staging posts to rest and recuperate on their annual migrations to the other side of the world.
We have others, such as Pied Oystercatcher, Beach Stone Curlew, and Osprey that depend on estuaries for breeding and feeding, who have lost so much habitat that they are now vulnerable to extinction. And there are many others that are coming under increasing stress.
Many birds that used to regularly nest here no longer can, and its seems that now people won’t even give them time to rest and recuperate.
It is bad enough that they are regularly harassed by pet dogs, careless beach users or people wanting selfies with birds wheeling around, but the constant partying at Tallow Creek is a death knell.
On Christmas eve a couple of hundred people partied there all night, with their fires, lights and blaring music (not to mention rubbish and lack of toilets). On New Years Eve a few hundred people partied the night away there. The wildlife don’t stand a chance under this sustained attack.
While I appreciate that careless locals join in, the majority of patrons at these events are on annual migrations from the other side of the world. They are trashing the home of our migratory species to pursue their hedonistic lifestyles.
I implore people to stop trashing it.
Dailan Pugh, Byron Bay
Same situation at Taylor’s lake on New Years!
It is an absolute disgrace that neither Police, Council or National Parks can get their act together to protect our our precious natural assets.
Especially disappointing is that our so called ‘Greens’ council is doing bugger all.
Myself also fed up with being abused by the horde and cleaning up after them!
Imploring people to stop trashing an environment never works. Careless local or overseas visitor – both don’t care. Again, yes there are tourists involved – both instances you mentioned in your letter – had such a presence. Whilst overseas tourist presence would be a given, I would be more concerned the “tourist” presence from Victoria, NSW, and Queensland, which is on top of the local tail presence. Given the number of doofs, music festivals – legit or not so, and other parties that occur in this region of Northern Rivers, the building blocks for these trashing events begin with locals. Just check out some of the instagram accounts in the area. Those who go actually post photos of themselves at these locations (Tallow Creek for instance). It is not moral their actions but what do they care? It’s all in the name of love, freedom, peace (what an oxymoron that is), and expression of spirit. The irony is, some of these people actually claim to care for the environment, yet their actions counter their claims constantly.
I have been a long-term visitor to Tallow Creek and that whole beautiful stretch of coastal wonderland from Broken Head to Cosy Corner for decades. It has got worse in the last ten years. There is little if any policing on that stretch of beach, the fines are a joke, and we all know what a vested interest the Byron region now has in tourism revenue, no I meant festival occurence, opps, I really meant economic generation to support a lucrative business. What concerns me, is why aren’t there more concerned locals taking this matter further? Ahh thats right, a lot have moved on now, and the original feel of the area is lacking. Not too mention that the so-called residential area nearest the Tallow Creek and Suffolk Park coastal environment is a holiday-letting gold mine.
I miss the old Byron and surrounds.
Regards,
Luke
Still here Luke.
Fighting hard to establish herbicide free bush regeneration and with the event of a collection of dedicated volunteers, tackling road verge misplaced plants previously targeted by Council’s contractors and land-care.
We are making progress.
More volunteers needed who are consistent and who will take on the guardian ship of their work. We also need more media coverage to give incentive for those who talk the talk to take the big step to walk the walk.
All the best for 2017.
Huonbrook Herbicide-free Active Volunteers.
Great stuff Don!!
Your work, along with other volunteers, for the environment is a shining light for the Huonbrook region. Glad there are still some of the “old guard” present in the Northern Rivers.
Likewise all the best for 2017.