Investigations into polystyrene spill ongoing, as first turtle nest sighted on Sunshine Coast

Investigations into the cause of the polystyrene ball spill that washed up on the Sunshine Coast are ongoing, as the first turtle nests of the season are spotted.

Fears are growing for nesting turtles ahead of another season on Sunshine Coast beaches as a mystery polystyrene ball spill continues to affect several popular beaches.

Sunshine Coast locals reported sightings of tiny polystyrene balls washed up on Alexandra Headland, Maroochydore and Cotton Tree beaches, as well as along the Maroochy River on Friday, November 3.

The pollution incident sparked an investigation to identify the source of the spill, as the relevant agencies Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ), Department of Environment and Science (DES) and Sunshine Coast Council struggled to identify the source.

According to a Sunshine Coast Council spokesman investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing.

“A source has still not yet been identified,” the spokesman said.

The tiny polystyrene balls washed up on beaches across the Sunshine Coast.

Maritime Safety Queensland advised that the organisation is collaborating with key stakeholders to investigate the spill.

“Maritime Safety Queensland has been working with Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Sunshine Coast Council and our colleagues at the Department of Environment and Science to respond to the Polystyrene spill and investigate the source,” a statement from the organisation read.

A Department of Environment and Science spokesman said “there is no current evidence to suggest that the spill has come from a land-based source”.

Sunshine Coast Environmental Council general manager Ben Child called for better collaboration between key organisations in response to similar events.

“They all should play a role in regards to events like these, explain the processes involved, and try to communicate that to the community,” Mr Child said.

The tiny polystyrene balls.

Ultimately, it was left to advocacy groups The Beach Matters and Ten Little Pieces, as well as hundreds of volunteers to pick up the mess, commencing a monumental clean up effort that significantly reduced the number of balls on the beach.

Ten Little Pieces founder Alison Foley paid tribute to those that lent a helping hand.

Ten Little Pieces founder Alison Foley was heavily involved in the clean up effort.

“In the last two and a half weeks, we’ve seen an extraordinary outpouring of community activation to protect these beautiful and fragile ecosystems,” Ms Foley said.

“Thank you to everyone who continues to keep an eye out for these little beads, they’re absolutely not turtle food.”

Coolum and North Shore Coast Care members Sheryl Wright, Tash Cassidy, and Dani Tippo with the first turtle nest spotted for the season. Picture: Coolum and North Shore Coast Care

The clean-up effort continues as Coolum and North Shore Coast Care reported the first known turtle nest of the season on Monday, November 20 near Mudjimba.

Coolum and North Shore Coast Care secretary Tash Cassidy said that the polystyrene balls pose an ingestion risk to turtles.

“They are a big risk to turtles, the poly balls are the perfect size to be mistaken by turtles and end up being eaten,” Ms Cassidy said.

“The spill is definitely in the forefront of our minds with it being turtle season and it needs to be cleaned up as soon as possible.

“It’s a big concern with turtles just off our coastline ready to come into nest.”

Sunshine Coast residents are encouraged to contact the Department of Environment and Science Pollution Hotline on 1300 130 372 with any information to help identify where the balls came from.