Teewah Beach access under threat as helium balloons litter shoreline, angering long-time beachgoers

Anger is growing over the state of Sunshine Coast beaches with balloons pinpointed as a major source of the trash troubles.

Anger is growing over the state of Sunshine Coast beaches with balloons pinpointed as a major source of the trash troubles.

The stretch of beach from Teewah to Inskip Point campgrounds near Double Island Point has become increasingly popular and litter problems have compounded as a result.

Cooroy resident and regular beachgoer Julianne Crawford said more and more helium balloons were being found scattered along the shoreline of the popular stretch.

“You can see them (balloons) all along the beach,” Ms Crawford said.

“Most of the time the balloons are still inflated and you can see them rolling around or buried in the sand.”

Ms Crawford said it saddened her to see so many balloons washed up on the beach.

“Each time my partner and I would see one we would stop and pick them up and just from the beach entrance to the campgrounds we would’ve stopped over 20 times,” she said.

“That stretch of sand is only about 20km so it’s really poor to see and understand how bad this situation is.”

In Queensland the release of balloons is a chargeable offence as it falls under illegal dumping.

Outraged local, Julianne Crawford, showing just a few of the balloons that wash up regularly on our local beaches.

Karen Joynes, 61, from the No Balloons Release Group, said the main concern was for local wildlife.

“The turtles will often mistaken the burst balloons as jellyfish, very similar to plastic bags, which thankfully we’ve gotten rid of,” Ms Joynes said.

“The birds are affected the most as they will get their beaks, legs and stomachs wrapped up in the balloon ribbon causing them to die.

“It seems as it’s all becoming more of an established practice where people are releasing these balloons without the knowledge and impact they have on our wildlife.”

Ms Crawford said she would like to see helium balloons banned.

“They need to ban the balloons,” she said.

“If people can't be trusted not to illegally release these balloons than they need to be taken away.

“I know that means the majority suffer because of the minority, but it’s a small price to pay if it’s going to save that beach and other Sunshine Coast beaches.”

Ms Crawford said if it kept happening beach access could come under threat.

“I really do hate it because that beach is one of the most beautiful places we can go to,” she said.

“Whether it be through littering, releasing of these balloons, the illegal beach fires, hooning or whatever, if people continue to trash and disrespect the beach our right will be taken away.

“The last thing anyone wants to see is an animal or sea creature dead on the shoreline of our beautiful beaches.”

Originally published as Teewah Beach access under threat as helium balloons litter shoreline, angering long-time beachgoers