Ambient light tower set up at Saunders Beach for newborn turtles

Townsville City Council put in place measures to help baby turtles find their way to the ocean after residents raised the alarm about a looming hatch that could have ended in disaster.

Councillor Brodie Phillips with amber light tower at Saunders Beach, designed to help turtles make their way to the ocean. Picture: Supplied

Townsville City Council has set up an amber light tower in an innovative lighting trial to help turtle hatchlings find their way to sea at Saunders Beach.

Artificial lights near turtle nesting sites cause hatchlings to crawl towards roads and houses instead of following the reflection of the full moon into the ocean.

Earlier this month, Saunders Beach locals raised concerns about hatchlings walking towards a light near houses instead of the ocean, leading them to a certain death.

The council has established the mobile light tower fitted with amber lights with the Saunders Beach turtle nest is expected to hatch on 12 February during the next full moon.

Division 2 Councillor Brodie Phillips said the council was able to turn off existing LED lights in the park and roll out the amber lights in time for the hatch.

“Some of the locals have told me that it’s been over 20-odd years since they’ve noticed a turtle hatching up there,” Cr Phillips said.

“So it’s quite special that the residents are excited and they’ve very been very happy to have that amber light tower up there.”

Angela Rheeders, who is the resident who discovered the turtle eggs after spotting a female turtle nesting nearby, said she was adamant that action should be taken to help the turtles.

Previous lighting at Saunders Beach that was at risk of leading newborn turtles away from the ocean. Photo: Angela Rheeders.

“The council said they were going to trial these lights, the amber lights, which they have done successfully on Maggie Island and in a few other places,” Ms Rheeders said.

Saunders Beach residents have worked together to take shifts in the heavy rain to watch over the eggs that are expected to hatch this week.

“[The locals] always want updates about what’s happening and they’ve been prepared to do shifts and we’ll make sure that we can steer [the turtle hatchlings] in the right direction,” Ms Rheeders said.

“Apparently she’s a flatback sea turtle and they say that the incubation is from 55 to 60 days and 60 days is Feburary 12.”

“So we’re hoping it’ll be either today or tomorrow night.”

The amber light tower will stay for the duration of the turtles’ expected hatching season. Picture: Supplied

The former wildlife carer for possums concluded with how touching it was to see the community band together to protect wildlife.

“I’m so impressed with everybody and their positive input and feedback. Everybody’s prepared to do whatever they can. I think it’s great,” said Ms Rheeders.

“It’s wonderful. It’s very heartwarming.”

The council will keep the light tower during the turtles’ expected hatching season and then plan to deploy it to other locations if needed.

Originally published as Ambient light tower set up at Saunders Beach for newborn turtles