Illegal campers may have irreversibly damaged endangered turtle habitats and Aboriginal fossils in the WA-declared coastal desert of WA, according to a non-profit environmental organization.
Key points:
- The pandemic has led to an increase in illegal camping off the coast of Ningaloo
- The state government says the number of patrols has increased since then
- The Gnaraloo Wilderness Foundation says it’s not enough, as illegal campers continue to destroy the coast
Gnaraloo Wilderness Foundation president Kat Hattingh said last month that up to 80 people in 30 cars were camping and partying illegally on top of the fragile coastal desert.
“They can drive unintentionally over fossils and destroy things they don’t even know about [are] there, ”Mrs Hattingh said.
He said visitors were illegally camping at the “Heart Attacks” site, which is located between 3 Mile Camp and Gnareloo Homestead, the only two places where people can stay in Ningaloo.
Illegal campers at the “Heart Attacks” location on the coast of Gnaraloo. (Supplied)
Ms Hattingh said people were traveling beyond the designated camps to reduce costs and explore.
However, he said, the sand dunes of Gnaraloo contained buried fossils, Aboriginal heritage and unique geological features.
He said they also risked running over the nests of endangered loggerhead turtles, which the nature-based charity has been working for the past 17 years to protect.
“People only approach the areas and do what they want at will in very important natural areas that many species need to survive,” Ms Hattingh said.
“All of these are part of the reason the coast was listed as a national and world heritage site.”
It calls for coastal action
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume. The Gnaraloo Wilderness Foundation says illegal campers were partying in the fragile coastal desert. The Ningaloo coast has been listed as a World Heritage Site since June 2011, according to the website of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction.
Gnaraloo is about 65 km from the 260 km coast of Ningaloo.
Ms Hattingh said the state government had forgotten about Gnaraloo.
“This is a great place,” Ms. Hattingh said.
“The problem in Ningaloo is that you have a lot of attention and focus in Exmouth and virtually no focus on this south coast of Ningaloo from Coral Bay to Quobba.”
Ms Hattingh said more rangers were needed to control the growing number of illegal campers in Gnaraloo.
A spokesman for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction said the illegal camping had increased off the coast of Ningaloo.
“The closure of interstate borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased visits to the Ningaloo coast,” the spokesman said.
“This increase in visits increased the pressure along the coast, and the DBCA saw an increase in illegal camping and the use of four-wheel drive.”
The Gnaraloo Wilderness Foundation says about 30 cars set up this illegal “mini-camp town” on the coast last month. (Supplied)
The DBCA said patrols had since increased along the reserve, targeting peak periods and high-visit areas.
The DBCA did not respond to a query on whether more resources were needed to prevent illegal campers.
Instead, he said his rangers had conducted more than 250 night patrols in the area since 2015 and were working with Nganhurra Aboriginal Corporation Thanardi Garrbu to increase the number of officers trained and authorized to protect outstanding values linked to the coast.
The DBCA said its rangers routinely conducted night patrols with an emphasis on compliance through education.
Not just campers, guardians
Ms Hattingh said educating more scouts would help prevent illegal camping.
“I think people who are attracted to four-wheel drive are intrinsically nature-loving, or wouldn’t want to do those kinds of wild activities,” he said.
He said the organization wanted to ensure that future generations could enjoy the beautiful coastline.
The Gnaraloo Wilderness Foundation has been working for the past 17 years to protect endangered loggerhead turtles. (Supplied)
“You can drive on all four wheels, you can fish, you can snorkel, you can sail, you can camp, but the point is to take care of the area by staying in the designated areas,” Ms Hattingh said.
“I know you can save yourself $ 20 or $ 200 or a thousand dollars, but really, think about your own children and the spiritual value of this coast and what it means to all of us.
“Let’s make sure that the custodians are the ones who care.”
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Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Thu, June 30, 2022 at 8:31 am, updated 2 hours ago, 2 hours ago, Thu, June 30, 2022 at 8:36 AM