Ocean Shores is a residential suburb bound by nature reserves. Billinudgel, Marshalls Creek, Jinangong, and North Head Reserve all have higher conservation values than any national park, which is a measure of their extraordinary biodiversity, and they were specifically set aside for species conservation, not for human use.
Ocean Shores has more left to protect than other parts of Byron Shire because of historically strong environmental activism but sadly, in recent years the diminishment of biodiversity has been striking. Where are the pheasant coucals? Spike the echidna and Ruby the python have gone, and seeing a bluetongue is rare. The plovers and bush stone curlews on Shara Boulevard, and the wood ducks on Orana Road are trying to co-habit, but their success rate isn’t great.
Preservation of endemic plants and animals must be a priority in this extinction crisis as we face rapid climate change and the threats expand: specific locations advertised on social media brings a level of tourism our northern villages cannot support. The level of tourism that Brunswick Heads now attracts cannot be accommodated here (and isn’t something the locals want expanded). Clearly reserves cannot become cycling highways without huge environmental impacts. And increased density has brought new residents to the area who clearly don’t understand what they’ve bought into and choose to prioritise their view over an existing wildlife corridor.
Small gestures counter the impacts: they matter and they add up collectively. Complacency is the enemy.
Plant local species, enjoy a view through the trees, keep your moggie inside and your dog on a lead, put a birdbath in your garden, drive slowly, leave green space around your house design, join a local Dunecare group, look around you and bring in the gratitude.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
