Bundaberg Region boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in
Australia. There are many to choose from with Bargara being only 15
minutes from Bundaberg City. Elliott Heads, Moore Park, Burnett Heads,
Innes Park, Coral Cove and Woodgate Beach all offer beautiful swimming
and family fun areas. Why not take a picnic and the family and take
the time to visit one of our lovely beaches this summer.
Some of the regions beaches are patrolled by tireless and dedicated Queensland Surf Lifesavers.
Please click on the image to the left for a copy of our Beach Safety Brochure.
Moneys Creek Causeway Tide Gate Operations
A schedule detailing when Council proposes
to open the tide gates on the Moneys Creek Lagoon causeway near Kellys
Beach is available here».
Council operates the gates in conjunction with tides that are high
enough to allow sea water to enter the lagoon, and to enable the lagoon
water to flush out, allowing a mix of fresh and salt water and the
movement of fish through the causeway.
This procedure is typically carried out in conjunction with a full or new moon.
If you have any questions or queries on this procedure, please contact Council's Natural Resources Section on 1300 883 699.
Vibrio Vulnificus Infection
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that occurs naturally in marine and
estuarine waters throughout the world. It thrives in warm waters
(especially warmer than 18 degrees C) and it is therefore common in
tropical and subtropical estuarine and sea waters. The bacterium can be
present in the water itself and in shellfish that grow in these waters.
For the majority of people, the bacterium is harmless. However,
people who wade or swim in estuarine or sea water with wounds or breaks
in their skin, or who ingest raw or undercooked shellfish, may be at
risk of infection.
Infections are uncommon and are usually mild. However, on rare
occasions Vibrio vulnificus may cause life-threatening infections.
In April 2011, a case involving this very rare organism occurred at Bargara,
highlighting the need for the public to keep vigilant against infection.
Queensland Health now have a fact sheet available. Please visit their website» for further information.
Protecting our Beaches
Council is taking
steps to ensure our beaches are safe and enjoyable by introducing a programme
of daily beach patrols to check on unlawful use of Four Wheel Drives in
restricted areas, and regulate uncontrolled dogs seven days a week.
"We have had reports of four wheel
drives using Moore
Park Beach
as a thoroughfare, which can be a real danger to families using the beach" Portfolio Councillor Mary Wilkinson said.
"This also has a massive effect on the sand dunes, which can cause erosion and
other problems. Uncontrolled dogs can also be a problem, especially to turtle
nests, at this time of year" Cr Wilkinson said.
Four wheel drive use is restricted
to the following beaches:
-
Moore Park
Beach - northern end. Four Wheel Drive
access is in Royal Palms, north of Sylvan Drive, with four wheel drive
vehicles only able to travel north towards the Kolan River. Southern entry point is via Lassig Street, with South travel only.
-
Woodgate Beach - southern end. Four Wheel Drive
access is from the southern-most beach access, with four wheel drive
vehicles only able to travel south towards the Burrum River.
Council is also asking for
cooperation from dog owners with controlling their dogs on the region's
beaches.
Cr Wilkinson said this is a health
and environmental issue: "Dogs need to be controlled by their owners at all
times in public areas, particularly on our beaches. If dogs are not controlled
this can lead to possible dog fights or attacks on people using our beaches,
which can be a danger to the public. Quite often, there are also health issues
if owners are not particular in cleaning up after their dogs".
Dogs are required to be on leashes
on all beaches, as signed, apart from 2 areas of Woodgate Beach,
which are leash-free zones (at the southern-most beach access and also at the
boatramp north to Theodolite Creek).
Areas where dogs are not allowed
are:
-
Oaks Beach - Burnett Heads
-
Kellys Beach - Bargara (including the Basin and
Money's Creek)
-
Nielsen Park
Beach - Bargara
-
Palmers Creek, Coral Cove
-
Moore Park
Beach - within 200 metres either
side of the Surf Lifesaving Club
-
Mon Repos
Beach
-
Elliott Heads
Beach
-
Elliott River
Beach area - within 500 metres west
of the boatramp
-
Palmers Creek, Innes Park
"These
restrictions are designed to ensure optimum safety for the public and our
environment. Council Officers will be patrolling and may issue on-the-spot fines,
which have now increased in line with State Government guidelines to $100".
Local council commits to becoming a Reef Guardian
Bundaberg Regional Council has today shown its commitment to protecting
the Great Barrier Reef by partnering with the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority to officially become a Reef Guardian Council.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Chairman Dr Russell Reichelt
said the Great Barrier Reef was facing increasing pressures and it was
local government commitment to initiatives like Reef Guardian Councils
that would help ensure the Reef was well placed to meet the challenges
ahead.
"The Great Barrier Reef is at a crossroad and it is the decisions made
in the next few years that are likely to determine its long-term
future," Dr Reichelt said.
"Initiatives such as the Reef Guardian Councils program will help to
ensure the resilience of the Reef in the face of a changing climate.
"The Reef Guardian Councils program is an innovative program that
recognises council's environmental projects while encouraging
participants to foster environmental stewardship of the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park through increased commitment to best management
practices.
"I am delighted that Bundaberg Regional Council have recognised the
importance of the program in protecting the Great Barrier Reef and take
n
this opportunity to come on board as a Reef Guardian Council.
"I congratulate Council and we look forward to working closely with them
to address pressures from climate change and to build the resilience of
the Reef by improving water quality flowing from the catchment to the
Marine Park."
Bundaberg Regional Council Mayor, Cr Lorraine Pyefinch, said becoming a
Reef Guardian Council was an important step. “We pride ourselves on
being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef” said Cr Pyefinch. “It is
so important from both tourism and environmental perspectives to
preserve the reef for future generations and becoming a Reef Guardian
Council will help do this”.
Reef Guardian Councils
The Reef Guardian Council initiative commenced in 2007 and seeks to
recognise and promote the important role of local government in helping
to protect and conserve the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park for future
generations. It aims to achieve this by recognising the valuable work
local government has been undertaking towards environmentally
sustainable practices with a view to encouraging identification of
future opportunities and actions that will help in protecting the Great
Barrier Reef.
In addition to recognising Councils’ efforts to date, the initiative also encourages Councils to consider working towards:
- identifying and implementing ‘best environmental practice’ in
undertaking day-to-day operations and other core business activities
- identifying and implementing ‘best environmental practice’ principles in land use and infrastructure planning
- providing locally relevant environmental communication and education programs for staff and the community
- identifying and developing key partnerships and collaborations that can help to meet these objectives.
There are currently 13 Councils along the Great Barrier Reef coastline
officially signed up to the program which covers all coastal councils
from Bundaberg to Cooktown and equates to 317 271 km2 and a combined
population of greater than 890 000.
Stonefish - 17.12.09
There have been reports of stonefish at Bargara Basin. Stonefish frequent the rocky shorelines and
beaches from Elliott Heads in the South to Burnett Heads in the North. These
fish can be extremely difficult to see in the water and do pose the risk of
causing serious injury and harm to 'beach-goers'.
Council urges swimmers to take care when swimming and keep away from rocky areas.
The fact sheet from Surf Life Saving Australia has some important information on keeping safe.
Kellys Beach Camera
