Tallebudgera Creek fairy, Sally Gregory calls for council

Tallebudgera Creek is so iconic it features in airline ads, but under the signature blue water a deadly threat looms. Find out what you can do to help.

Tallebudgera Creek "fairy" Dr Sally Gregory cleaning up the beach and waterways near Tallebudgera Creek, as part of an effort to minimise harm to the environment. Picture Glenn Hampson

Thousands of people visit Tallebudgera Creek daily, but under the signature blue water a deadly threat looms.

Dr Sally Gregory, whose devotion to the popular swimming spot has earned her the title of the Talle Creek Fairy, said she had found damning evidence of illegal fishing, creating a grave risk for humans and marine life.

The Burleigh Heads resident has been documenting her finds since her first dive in the creek in 2020.

“When I first dived under the bridge and got to the pylons it was like spider webs of line and deadly hooks,” she said.

“I realised this was an absolute death trap, not just for the animals but also for the people.

“There were also big tumbleweeds of aggregated line and hooks … and in those were carcasses of eels and fish who had died long, slow, painful deaths.”

Cleaning up the beach and waterways near Tallebudgera Creek, as part of an effort to minimise harm to the environment. Picture Glenn Hampson

Vowing to clean up the mess herself, she has clocked 200 cleaning dives, collecting almost 60,000m of fishing line, more than 10,000 hooks and sinkers, hundreds of clothing items and towels, and even six phones.

“The only way it would be cleaned carefully enough to protect the marine life would be if I did it,” she said.

Tallebudgera Creek "fairy" Dr Sally Gregory cleaning up the beach and waterways near Tallebudgera Creek, as part of an effort to minimise harm to the environment. Picture Glenn Hampson

When she can’t dive she trawls the beaches for litter and takes photos of shoes and towels she hopes someone might return to.

If they aren’t claimed within a day, she donates the items.

Salvaged fishing tackle is given to Ozfish and any toys she finds go straight to the free beach toy library she built with the help of her friends.

Elizabeth and Blasius Erlinger helped Dr Gregory build a Toy Library at one of the beaches along Tallebudgera Creek, to prevent lost toys being swept to sea. Left to right: Dr Sally Gregory, Elizabeth Erlinger, Blasius Erlinger. Photo supplied.

A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman said fishing off Tallebudgera Creek bridge was illegal, and city officers “conduct regular day and night patrols”.

She said the penalty for fishing off the bridge was $806, although no fines have been dealt in the past 12 months.

Originally published as Tallebudgera Creek fairy, Sally Gregory calls for council