Fraser Coast Turtle Rehabilitation Centre to open

A rehab centre will be established near the foreshore at Dayman Park on the Fraser Coast, where rescued turtles will be triaged, and vital research carried out into the general health of threatened turtle populations.

Turtles in Trouble Rescue coordinators Holly West and Ali Hammond release a rehabilitated sea turtle back into the waters of the Great Sandy Strait.

Plans for a rehabilitation centre which will become the regional hub for turtle research, education and training in Urangan have progressed.

The material change of use submission is the next step in the proposed Fraser Coast Turtle Rehabilitation and Rescue Centre, a University of Sunshine Coast led project.

The project is receiving $1 million in funding from the state government on top of an earlier commitment of $230,000 for specialist turtle life support equipment.

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Extreme weather events have left the Fraser Coast turtle population in a precarious position.

Two men have been injured when their cars collided head on in wet conditions at Tinana.

The centre will be established near the foreshore at Dayman Park, in an existing Fraser Coast Regional Council building that will be repurposed to allow rescued turtles in need of care to be triaged, and vital research to be conducted into the general health of threatened turtle populations.

K’gari is home to numerous turtle species including the endangered loggerhead, the vulnerable green, hawksbill, flatback, the endangered leatherback and olive ridley turtles.

The devastating 2022 floods impacted their ability to feed and move, and with 135 turtles found dead in 2022, and 130 rescued, experts are concerned.

“Many turtles are starving,” marine scientist Kathy Townsend said.

“Heavy rain and flooding from extreme weather events last year means only one per cent of their main food source, seagrass, remains”.

The facility will “bridge a gap” between much-needed turtle care, rehabilitation and research, Environment Minister Leanne Linard believes.

“The centre will increase the chance of survival for individual turtles and improve turtle conservation methods as a whole.”