1. food and drink
2. food
3. grains and pasta

COASTCARE HANDBOOK OF TASMANIA
Communities caring for the Coast
Getting
started
How
to do
more of it
ect
i
ps
5. Planning the
6. tart wor
i n
PART D
Getting started
ect
i
ps
5. Planning the
6. tart wor
i n
PART D How to do more of it
Part D: How to do more of it
In Part D you will find more practical actions including protecting dunes and
water quality, managing access, and protecting wildlife along the coast.
You may not need all this information and you certainly don’t need to know
it all. Techniques are constantly changing as we learn more about coastal
processes, ecology and managing human impacts on the coast. Always seek
advice.
You must have permission from the land manager before commencing any
works or activities, sometimes assessments and approvals are required.
17. Protecting dunes and sandy
coastlines
17.1
17.2
17.3
17.4
17.5
17.6
17.7
17.8
17.9
17.10
19. Protecting coastal waterways
Coastal dunes and sandy landscapes 2
Dune terminology
2
Geoconservation values of 4
coastal dunes
Dune blowouts
5
To stabilise or not? 6
Remove the destabilising influences 8
Vegetation and sand movement
8
Dune-forming fences 8
Surface stabilisation techniques 11
Dune reshaping after storms
12
18. Managing access
18.1
18.2
18.3
18.4
18.5
Why control access?
Planning for access management
How can Coastcare groups get involved?
Consultation with community is important
Access control methods
12
13
16
17
17
19.1
19.2
19.3
19.4
19.5
Types of coastal waterways
Threats to coastal waterways
Protecting coastal waterways Protecting saltmarsh Monitoring coastal waterways 22
23
25
28
31
20. Protecting wildlife
20.1 Tasmania’s unique coastal wildlife
20.2 Shorebirds and small seabirds
20.3 Threats to shorebirds
20.4 Protecting shorebirds
20.5 Penguins, shearwaters and other seabirds
20.6 Protecting shearwaters
20.7 Protecting little penguins
20.8 Working in little penguin habitat
20.9 Recreation and protecting wildlife
20.10 Fishing and boating guidelines
20.11 Helping injured wildlife
33
35
38
38
39
40
41
42
45
45
45
21. Pests and problems
21.1
21.2
21.3
21.4
21.5
Oil spills
Marine debris
Feral animals Marine pests Common marine pests to look for
51
51
52
54
55
Part D: How to do more of it D1
17.Protecting
dunes and sandy
coastlines
17.1 Coastal dunes and sandy landscapes
17.2 Dune terminology
17.3 Geoconservation values of coastal dunes
17.4 Dune blowouts
17.5 To stabilise or not?
17.6 Remove the destabilising influences
17.7 Vegetation and sand movement
17.8 Dune-forming fences
17.9 Surface stabilisation techniques
17.10 Dune reshaping after storms
Coastal dunes, sandy beaches and sand
spits are a feature of many Tasmanian
coastlines. Sandy landscapes are
generally active landforms subject to a
cycle of erosion and deposition. They are
best left to find a natural equilibrium. It
is important to seek expert advice before
you decide whether or how to intervene.
There is not a lot a Coastcare group can
do about a receding shoreline. However
human-induced erosion due to vehicle,
boat and pedestrian access, burning,
grazing, fire, sand extraction and clearing
can be tackled by Coastcare groups. This
chapter will guide you on what can be
done to help.
17.1 Coastal dunes and
sandy landscapes
Dunes are naturally unstable features and are arguably
the most dynamic landforms in Tasmania, prone to
extremely rapid change. The state has a great diversity
of coastal dune types including bay head dunes, river
mouth dunes, parallel dunes, beach ridges, parabolic
(mobilised) dunes, headland bypass dunes, cliff top
dunes, a barrier island, bay mouth spits and mid bay
spits.
Coastal sand dunes are formed by the transport of
sand onto beaches by wave action and then up the
beach by wind. Specialised dune vegetation plays a
critical role by trapping windblown sand and allowing
foredunes to grow parallel to the shoreline. The type
of vegetation may determine the shape and profile of
the dunes.
Loose sand-size grains are easily transported by wind,
waves and currents, yet are quickly dropped and
accumulate as soon as these transport mechanisms
wane. Natural coastal erosion, longshore drift and
tidal currents readily supply and replenish sand, and
sandy landscapes are always changing in response
to changes in wind, waves, tides, currents and fresh
water flows.
The effects of climate change (sea-level rise,
increased storm events and changes to wind and
rainfall patterns) will have major implications for the
stability of sandy coasts (see Chapter 3). However
some dune systems are naturally active. Stabilisation
may not be appropriate if it interferes with natural
dune processes, conservation values or Aboriginal
heritage sites. The Tasmanian Geoconservation
Database lists sites of geomorphological significance.
Artificial interruptions to the natural movement of
sand can cause many problems.
17.2 Dune terminology
It is best to avoid the terms ‘primary’, ‘secondary’ and
‘frontal’ dunes as they can be ambiguous.
In some of the older literature dunes have been
described as ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ dunes. The
terms ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ are used to describe
the order of colonisation of coastal plants onto dune
systems, rather than to describe the dunes themselves.
Other texts refer to ‘frontal dunes’ which is difficult
to define if the seaward side of the dune system is
fluctuating between building up and eroding.
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
The white sands of north-east Tasmania result from the granite rock that extends along the east coast.
The following terms are recommended for defining
dunes. Technical information on appropriate dune
terminology can be found in Coastal Sand Dunes –
Form and Function (Hesp, 2000).
Foredunes
‘Foredunes’ are sand ridges which accumulate at
the back of beaches above the high-water mark
where vegetation captures sand blown off the beach.
‘Incipient foredunes’ are small ephemeral foredunes
that may accumulate above high water mark for a few
years following major storms, but are occasionally
destroyed by major storms. ‘Established foredunes’
are larger foredunes landwards of incipient dunes,
which generally accumulate at and beyond the limit
of even very large storm waves. The seawards slope of
established foredunes may occasionally be scarped
by large storms, but the whole dune will only be
destroyed if a change in conditions occurs, such as a
significant rise in sea-level.
Transgressive and parabolic dunes
Established foredunes or parallel dunes that have
become exposed to wind erosion, may result in
‘blowouts’ and ‘deflation basins’. In unvegetated
dunes, the eroded sand gradually blows landwards,
and may have parabolic or sheet-like forms. These
mobilised dunes are known as ‘transgressive dunes’ or
‘parabolic dunes’ and may travel landwards for tens of
metres or even kilometres before becoming stabilised
by vegetation.
Beach ridges
Some beaches and foredunes are backed on the land
side by a series of lower, shore-parallel sand ridges
known as ‘beach ridges’. These are not true dunes but
are low storm-wave berms that rapidly accumulated
one in front of the other during the early phases of
beach development after sea levels stabilised around
600 years ago.
Parallel dunes
Parallel dunes – sometimes known as hind dunes or
back dunes – are sometimes (but not always) present
where a beach has been prograding (growing) over
a long period of time. The incipient foredunes have
persisted to become new established foredunes in
front of older established foredunes, which become
the hind or back dunes.
Part D: How to do more of it D3
Coastal dune system.
Some sandy coast and dune systems in Tasmania that
are recognised for their geoconservation values (their
importance as landforms) include:
Coastal dunes at Noyhener Beach in the Port Davey area.
17.3 Geoconservation values
of coastal dunes
This section is adapted slightly from Michael
Pemberton’s unpublished notes.
Fossil dunes, or the remains thereof, that formed
during the Last Glacial climatic phase are sometimes
found inland from the present coast, and in some
places even older coastal dunes from the Last
Interglacial phase, 125,000 years ago, are located
further inland.
»» Seven Mile Beach mid bay spit – one of only four
mid bay spits in Tasmania, with extensive beach
ridge systems, foredunes and transgressive or
parabolic dunes.
»» Hazards Isthmus, Freycinet National Park – a
well-developed and mostly undisturbed tombolo,
which is a sand bar that connects an island to
the mainland. It is one of only seven tombolos
in Tasmania. Four of these have been seriously
affected by development or by introduced
species.
»» Waterhouse Dunefield – one of the most extensive
dune fields in Tasmania, comprising recent and
Last Glacial phase dunes, although dune forming
processes have been seriously affected by marram
grass, an introduced species.
»» Lavinia Point–Cowper Point dunes on King Island
– well-developed parallel dunes along a coast that
also has fossil coastal features.
»» Stephens Bay–Noyhener Beach, south-west
Tasmania – headland bypass dunes where sand
from one bay is moving overland to the next bay.
A database of sites with geoconservation significance
in Tasmania known as the Tasmanian Geoconservation
database is maintained by DPIPWE and includes a
variety of coastal dune sites. This information will
assist in the management and protection of unique
and representative coastal dunes.
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
The rule of thumb is: If the dune is degraded, remove
the cause of the degradation first then consider other
management options. Keep in mind that most coastal
sand blows will eventually stop by themselves, usually
within hundreds of metres from the coast or even less.
Tips for assessing blowouts
When assessing blowouts consider the following:
Aerial photos over time can indicate how old a blowout is and
whether it is growing or revegetating naturally.
Older dunes may still be found behind the more
recent coastal dunes on many parts of the Tasmanian
coast, for example behind Waterhouse Bay in the
northeast or Cloudy Bay in the south, and they even
occur perched on top of rocky shores and sea-cliffs
in places such as Cape Pillar and Shipstern Bluff
on Tasman Peninsula. These older dune systems
are sometimes less susceptible to wind erosion
than younger foredunes; however they are still
unconsolidated sand deposits which can erode if
inappropriately disturbed.
17.4 Dune blowouts
Blowouts do not need treating if they are caused by
natural processes and/or are not causing a problem.
If a blowout appears to be caused by human activity
or domestic stock, find out whether the blowout
is growing or stabilising by itself. If revegetation is
occurring naturally, the blowout may right itself.
Blowouts associated with vehicle tracks, boat ramps
or livestock are another matter. Livestock can cause
irreparable damage to dunes, so grazing on dunes
should be avoided.
»» Wind direction – remember the west, east and
north coasts have very different wind regimes.
»» Amount of vegetation cover – if less than 50% it is
probably worth being concerned about.
»» Look at where sand is being eroded from and
deposited to – identify threats and pressures.
»» Look at the source of the sand supply to assess
the stage of the blow. If there is little dry loose
sand, the source of sand may be virtually
exhausted. Once the supply of sand is minimal,
the blow should slowly stop. Natural regeneration
should occur quite rapidly if native vegetation is
nearby as a seed source.
»» If there is a suitable seed source, leave
the blow alone and monitor to see if it
rehabilitates naturally. This is cheaper and
more environmentally acceptable than artificial
rehabilitation.
How much is the sand moving?
It is quite simple to monitor the rate of blowout
movement by placing a row of star pickets or wooden
stakes at 3 to 5 m intervals between the blowout front
and its furthest point inland – the active front of the
blow. Every month or so, measure the distance from
the active front to the closest picket or stake. This will
give some idea of the rate of movement, which can
initially be quite rapid. Natural dune blows monitored
in western Tasmania have moved distances of 6 m in
six months.
Normally the rate of movement will slow markedly
as sand from the source of the blow is depleted.
Once sand movement stops, natural revegetation will
usually occur remarkably quickly.
Reviewing a time series of orthorectified aerial photos is a good way to
monitor changes over time. This is called
Photogrammetry
Part D: How to do more of it D5
Dune-forming fences can also help to keep people off of areas being rehabilitated as they are an obvious structure (at least until they are
buried).
As a rule of thumb:
»» if blowouts are remote from infrastructure
such as primary access tracks, watering points
or buildings, the best option is to allow the
blowout to evolve through its cycle and allow it to
revegetate naturally.
»» revegetate an incipient blowout before it
develops.
17.5 To stabilise or not?
It is important to appreciate that dunes are highly
mobile landforms and sand blows can occur
naturally. Many plants and animal species and various
ecosystems depend on dune movement for their
survival.
One of the main considerations in assessing whether
Coastcare groups should attempt to stabilise dune
blowouts or other instances of sand mobility is
whether the dunes are naturally active or have been
unnaturally mobilised by human interference.
Naturally mobile dunes are sometimes seen as
threatening features that are about to consume more
important land. However, past attempts to stabilise
dunes have caused problems in adjacent coastal
areas, including increased erosion, sedimentation
and invasion of exotic species such as marram grass,
which was previously used to stabilise dunes.
It is better to try to understand the way the coastal
sediment system operates and how proposed works
may alter sand movement. Often, with careful
planning and assessments of the direction of dune
movement and sand availability, threats from blowing
sand can be avoided by planning more appropriate
use of nearby land.
In cases where blowouts or dune mobility are
determined to be a result of human interference or
of concern for other justifiable reasons, stabilisation
may be appropriate. The main methods of stabilising
dunes are to:
1. remove the destabilising pressure; and
2. obstruct wind erosion.
Dune stabilisation may not be appropriate if it
interferes with natural dune processes, other nature
conservation values or Aboriginal heritage sites. For
example some naturally mobile dune systems have
been listed as sites of geomorphological significance
on the Tasmanian Geoconservation Database, partly
because they are excellent examples of naturally
mobile coastal dune landform systems.
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Dune Stabilisation Checklist
†† Is the dune area naturally mobile
or is the erosion caused by human
activities or domestic stock?
†† Are there Aboriginal or
geoconservation values that should
be left undisturbed?
†† Is the erosion causing a problem that
should be fixed?
†† What can be done to reduce human
impacts or the impacts of domestic
stock – access control, signs/
education?
†† Are dune-forming fences, brush or
textiles necessary? Identify prevailing
wind direction and wind speed
and work out feasibility, materials,
labour, and costs.
†† Is revegetation necessary – what are
the appropriate species and spacing
of plants (refer to Ch14, Section
14.6.)?
†† What monitoring is needed to check
that fences, geotextiles and plants
are in place and stabilisation is
occurring?
The goal of dune stabilisation works is to allow
vegetation to establish on bare sand areas, thereby
binding and stabilising the sand. Some additional
works may be necessary to obstruct wind to
encourage vegetation. Wind can be obstructed with
dune-forming fences and/or mulching with brush
or geotextiles. These methods reduce surface wind
speed so native vegetation can establish. Seed
reaching the site from adjacent vegetation can
germinate and start to bind the sand. If there is no
source of seed nearby, the area can be planted with
appropriate native species.
Boats left on foreshores will damage the coastal vegetation that
is holding the sand in place and leave shorelines more susceptible
to erosion.
Keep in mind that stabilisation work may not be
effective at first try – it may need modification.
Above all it will need to be monitored carefully to
ensure success. It is critical to keep a close eye on
stabilisation works to ensure that any dislodged
sections are repaired before further damage occurs.
Stabilisation may be appropriate where there is a
small blowout or vegetation has been damaged or
removed, leading to erosion. Structures such as
mesh fences, brush mulches or geotextiles slow the
movement of sand so that plants can establish and
hold the sand in place.
The stabilisation methods (fences, windbreaks
and revegetation) should be adapted for the site
conditions, especially the prevailing wind speeds and
patterns of wind flow.
Dune-forming fences (mesh fences or brush fences)
are a more permanent method than temporary
surface stablisation techniques such as mulching with
brush or geotextiles.
Part D: How to do more of it D7
Wind flow patterns
The wind speed over and through dunes can
accelerate at points where one or more of the
following occur:
»» the wind changes direction
»» air turbulence increases
»» wind is funnelled through narrow spaces.
17.6 Remove the
destabilising influences
If a dune has started to blow as a result of human
pressure or domestic stock, immediately stop or
remove the disturbing influence – otherwise there is
no point trying to fix the damage. It may be necessary
to reduce and redirect access to the area.
The area could be left to fix itself by fencing it off and
monitoring the result over a period of up to a year. If
there is no improvement, then you can take action
such as constructing dune-forming fences or surface
stabilisation with brush mulch and planting or direct
seeding. The most important areas of a sand blow to
stabilise are the edges.
Foredunes are the least stable of all dunes because
they are subject to wave erosion and direct wind
attack. A foredune is essentially a mobile reservoir
of sand, which moves between the beach, the nearshore sand bar and the dune during the cycles of
stormy and calm weather. It may not be practicable
to stabilise a mobile foredune. (See Part A: Figure 3.3)
Nevertheless, if the vegetation is being trampled, it
may be necessary to redirect foot traffic by managing
access.
17.7 Vegetation and
sand movement
A well-developed vegetation cover reduces sand
movement on sandy shorelines by forcing the wind to
rise above the ground surface. Generally, the higher
the percentage of vegetation covering the ground,
the more resistant the surface is to erosion, but this
depends on the type of vegetation. Low-growing
plants, such as grasses, are more effective sand
stabilisers than trees or shrubs without low branches.
This is because 90% of wind borne sand is transported
in the 0.5 m closest to the ground.
In revegetation projects, it is better to have a mix of
plants of different height and structure to lift the wind
above the ground. If the wind is elevated to a height
where sand grains cannot be transported, grains fall to
the ground and transport is inhibited or sporadic. Note
that, planting tall vegetation (over 2 m high) near the
dune front can stop sand moving downwind, and so
starve the dune system of sand.
The minimum vegetation cover required to stabilise
sand can vary between 30% and 60% depending on
how much the site is exposed to the prevailing wind,
the types of vegetation, and the density of planting.
If natural regeneration is slow, plant around the rim of
the blowout first and gradually work inwards. Mulch
placed around seedlings may help them survive.
You must have the permission of
your land manager before planning the
installation of any structures on public
land.
Access tracks to the beach should be carefully aligned
to ensure they are oblique to the dominant wind
direction.
Heavily used tracks should be fenced to confine
people to the track. If the track is eroding or steep,
it may be advisable to cover the track with a board
and chain track, from the crest of the foredune to the
bottom of the seaward slope (depending on the extent
of wave erosion ).
D8
17.8 Dune-forming fences
Mesh and brush fences are useful for small blowouts
and areas where stabilisation could take some years.
The fences need to be porous so that sand blows
through them rather than piling up in front.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
An example of a mesh dune-forming fence design © NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation 2001.
The dune-forming fences should be:
»» 750 mm high on average (0.5 to 1 m)
»» 60% porous to allow the fine particles of sand to
penetrate – fine sand holds more water, which will
make it easier for plants to establish
»» placed at an angle to the prevailing wind (as a rule
of thumb, at 90° to the blowout)
»» placed in an elliptical curve rather than straight
onto the wind.
Dune-forming fences along the beachfront are rarely
effective in trapping sand unless the prevailing wind
blows straight onto the beach. Fences in this situation
are generally only useful to keep people from walking
over the foredune vegetation.
Mesh dune-forming fences
Traditional mesh fences are constructed with woven
synthetic material similar to shade cloth. The fences
are designed to be covered by sand and do not need
to be moved if this happens. Obtain expert advice
(via your NRM or community facilitators within your
local council, PWS and NRM regional office) about the
appropriate placing of the fences.
The material is usually attached to plain wire stretched
between treated pine posts as follows:
»» Place wooden stakes at 1 to 4 m intervals. Secure
the woven cloth at the base by digging it 200 to
300 mm deep in the sand. Secure the cloth to the
wire at the top and bottom with a tough string or
ring fasteners. The string can also be tied from
the top of one stake to the bottom of the next and
again from bottom to top – forming an ‘x’, which
is placed on the downwind side of the cloth (to
withstand strong winds).
»» Construct the fences at intervals of 5 to 10 m,
depending on wind direction and strength and the
slope of the dune.
»» Secure both ends of the fence in areas of stable
vegetation.
Seek expert advice and permission from your land
manager before erecting any fencing. Adapted from
Coastal dune management. © NSW Department of
Land and Water Conservation 2001.
Part D: How to do more of it D9
Construction of brush windbreaks (or fences) to
stabilise blowouts is ineffective if they are placed too
far apart or are too porous (porosity less than 20%).
Brush windbreaks are more effective if designed
aerodynamically and cater for the local prevailing wind
patterns, keeping in mind that only 10% of wind-borne
sand rises more than 0.5 m above the ground surface.
The extent of the area protected behind the windbreak
is related to:
»» the height of the windbreak
»» porosity of the windbreak
»» wind speed
Storm damage to dunes at Primrose Sands in south-east
Tasmania.
Brush dune-forming fences
Brush fencing can be constructed with branches of
tea-tree or other woody coastal scrub.
Push the branches deeply into the sand, pack them
tightly together and secure with wire fencing.
Brush fences can be constructed similar to the mesh
fences described above. The scrub is placed in rows
between two vertical stakes about 300 to 400 mm
apart at 1m intervals.
The distance between fences depends on the
protection generated by the height of the brush fence.
For example, a 10 m high windbreak with a porosity
of 50% protects the leeward area to a distance that is
equivalent to about 5x the height (so 50m is sheltered
behind the windbreak).
The distance protected by a 1 m brush fence is 2.5x the
height (2.5 m), because a lower windbreak gives less
protection from wind. A windbreak of 0.5 m protects a
distance equal to only 2x the height (1 m).
The distance protected by a windbreak reduces
with increasing wind speed (which increases the
rate of erosion). A margin needs to be included in
the construction and placement of windbreaks to
allow for high wind speeds .Experts within your local
council or land management authority, or a coastal.
geomorphologist can provide advice.
Sharing stories
In south-east Tasmania, Clarence City Council
and the Lauderdale Coastcare group undertook
the daunting task of re-establishing a dune that
had been progressively removed by storm events.
This activity was undertaken to restore the sandy
environment and protect local assets but only
after recommendations from a comprehensive
expert report commissioned by the council. The
dune was rebuilt with sand scrapped from the
intertidal, then stabilised with jute mesh and
planted out with dune vegetation. Along with
other projects to remove destabilising influences,
D10
rationalise access and educate the community,
it is hoped that the new dune will enhance the
coastal environment and act as a buffer for the
assets behind.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Recent erosion scarp on Perkins Island in north-west Tasmania. Large amounts of sand have naturally slumped in front of the original dune
face and provide some stability. After a storm if the dune face has not yet collapsed and public risk is high, land managers may need to
re-shape the dune to a more stable profile.
A 50–60% porosity of the brush fence is important,
as sand needs to flow through the barrier, rather than
build up on the windward side and inundate it.
Planting native grasses between the fences allows the
fences to be fed by eroding sand while reducing the
rate of erosion to an acceptable level. Increasing the
density of planting initially is more costly in terms of
time, fertiliser and number of plants, but the outcome
is more ground cover in a shorter time period. Grass
planted at intervals of 3 per square metre takes 1–2
years to establish a ground cover of 30%, and 3 years
for a ground cover of 60%.
Placing any fencing stakes or posts
into the dune to encourage sand buildup can create a hazard once they are
mostly concealed. Public safety must be
considered.
17.9 Surface stabilisation
techniques
Brush mulches
Brush mulching with slashed branches provides an
immediate stabilising cover suitable for small areas.
Avoid laying brush too thickly, so plants can grow up
through it. Brush has the advantage of discouraging
grazing of the new vegetation by rabbits and wallabies.
It also stops trampling by people. Brush can be laid by
itself or in the areas between sand fences.
Try to use local native dune scrub. Remove only small
branches, not the entire plant and if possible cut brush
with ripe seed to assist revegetation. This may require
some planning to coincide with fruiting. Otherwise,
prunings of eucalypts, tea-tree and paperbark are
suitable. It may be possible to obtain these from the
local council’s pruning programs (ensure species are
locally native, not Australian natives or other exotic
plants).
Part D: How to do more of it D11
Cut scrub into lengths of 600–1000 mm and lay it in
rows with stems facing into the prevailing wind. Push
the butt ends 150–300 mm into the sand to stop the
brush blowing away. One layer is plenty but place the
branches so that the rows overlap slightly to provide a
60–80% cover.
Geotextiles
Textiles help to stabilise the sand and retain water.
However, they quickly become covered with sand
if there is a lot of sand movement. Geotextiles can
be expensive and easily vandalised so are only
recommended for difficult sites or where urgent
repairs are needed. The edges need to be pegged
down well to stop the wind from dislodging the
material and should be secured by placing at least 1
metre into stable vegetation on either side.
Jute mesh is one of the best geotextiles and relatively
cheap. It allows light through and plants can grow
through it. Jute mesh breaks down after a few years
but will last longer if it is placed as a double or
even triple layer. Two layers are generally best. It
is important to check regularly that the jute is not
becoming loose. It may be necessary to replace old
decaying material if revegetation is very slow.
17.10 Dune reshaping
after storms
The steep faces of foredunes carved by severe storms
are unstable and can be hazardous to beach users.
Eventually the dune face will slump to a more stable
shape, and on beaches which are not progressively
receding a new dune front slope will accumulate
naturally from sand blown off the beach. Until this
happens it may be necessary for land managers to
erect warning signs or temporary fences to protect
the public.
If public risk is particularly high, your land manager
may assess the need to use machinery to cautiously
slump the seaward face of the dune to create a
more stable dune profile. Specialist advice from a
coastal geomorphologist, supervision of the works,
and the protection of Aboriginal heritage values
and surrounding vegetation during the works are all
important considerations. Work closely with your
land manager to minimise any unnecessary impact on
works that your group has undertaken in the area.
D12
The boardwalk at Windermere Bay protects sensitive vegetation.
18.Managing access
18.1
18.2
18.3
18.4
18.5
Why control access?
Planning for access management
How can Coastcare groups get involved?
Consultation with community is important
Access control methods
18.1 Why control access?
Access to the coast is important but can also be
harmful to values such as coastal vegetation, dunes,
wildlife and Aboriginal heritage. The land manager
is responsible for managing access to the coast and
providing safe access where appropriate. Community
groups and volunteers can get involved in access
management but this should always be in partnership
with their local land manager, as the land manager will
need to maintain the access and will be liable for any
problems.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Unrestricted access can cause enormous damage to
the fragile coastal vegetation and soils, sensitive sites
and wildlife. Controlling access to degraded areas
gives nature a chance to heal itself. Walkways or other
track hardening, fences and signs can be used to
direct people away from sensitive coastal vegetation,
unstable dune areas and wildlife. A carefully-sited
viewing platform can keep people off such areas while
giving them the chance to look at a splendid view or
an interesting site, such as a shearwater colony.
Before any works take place in
coastal areas, seek advice about the
presence of Aboriginal heritage sites,
or sensitive plants and animals such as
shorebirds. It is important that any works
do not impact on other values. Approvals
and assessments may be required.
18.2 Planning for access
management
It is important that access to the coast meets
the needs of the community and users. However,
accessways require careful planning to ensure public
safety, and to protect coastal values.
Like any structure, coastal accessways require
ongoing maintenance and this must be considered
as part of the planning. There is no single design or
method of construction that can be recommended for
access management because coastal environments
and user groups vary from site to site. Sea-level rise
and storm frequency projections mean that hard
structures may not always be appropriate on coastal
foreshores.
Access control can be one of the
most controversial issues for Coastcare
projects. Community awareness and
support is critical – otherwise fences,
tracks and other structures will be
ignored or even destroyed.
Any access, tracks or structures will be the ongoing
responsibility of the land manager. The Tasmanian
Coastal Works Manual provides detailed advice
for land managers about things to consider
when managing access on the coast along with a
comprehensive list of other resources and planning
requirements.
The design and construction of accessways and other
structures must be appropriate for the particular
site conditions, such as the prevailing wind direction
and the types of usage. Materials that blend into the
environment, especially for intrusive structures such
as viewing platforms and toilets, are best.
Providing new access or changing existing tracks
should involve consultation with the local community
and user groups. Consider if multi-use tracks or
disabled access is appropriate.
Many coastal areas contain important Aboriginal
heritage sites. Assessments may be required for new
structures to ensure coastal values and Aboriginal
heritage are protected.
There may be threatened vegetation communities
or species and wildlife such as nesting shorebirds
or penguins that would be disturbed by works on
the foreshore. Time your works to avoid significant
wildlife events such as shorebird and penguin breeding
seasons, if present at your site.
Climate change and sea-level rise must be considered
when planning for any infrastructure along the coast.
Your local council can access the latest predictions
and seek advice from the Tasmanian Government. It is
important that tracks do not destabilize coastal areas
through removal of vegetation, channelling water or
increasing wind erosion.
Approvals and Australian Standards
You will need to get permission from the land
manager, local council, PWS or Crown Land Services
for any infrastructure works. You may even require a
Development Application (DA). Fences generally do
not need a DA but you must seek advice from the land
manager about public hazard and risk management
issues.
Major works must be constructed by properly qualified
contractors with public liability insurance or by the
land manager’s staff. The works will need to meet the
planning requirements of the land manager.
Part D: How to do more of it D13
The structure design and materials must meet
the Australian Standards, available from your land
manager or qualified contractors. This helps to meet
public safety and liability insurance obligations too.
The Australian Standard AS 2156.1 helps land
managers to decide what class of access they will
provide as this determines the design and materials to
be used and how much maintenance will be required.
If there is little money to maintain
infrastructure, choose the most cost
effective access option that requires the
least amount to maintain it. There is no
point having the best looking viewing
platform if in five years no one has
any money to maintain it or carry out
engineering inspections.
Maintenance
All structures require regular monitoring and
maintenance to remove hazards such as splinters,
to repair broken sections and check whether the
structures are being undermined or buried in sand.
Fences need to be checked after storms.
Sharing stories
Non-fencing access control using trail
markers at Southern Beaches
The Southern Beaches Landcare/Coastcare
group in south-east Tasmania was frustrated
with the degradation of the foreshore due to
informal tracks and encroachments affecting
the dunes, headlands and cultural and natural
heritage.
The group consulted broadly with the local
community and worked closely with the local
council to develop a passive approach to access
management. Rather than fencing off areas
of the dunes, they used bollards painted in
different colours and with different bird images
(painted by a local artist) to identify the different
tracks.
The attractive track-marking has made it easy
for people to ‘stick to the track’, protecting
the dunes without the need for fencing,
thereby minimising infrastructure and ongoing
maintenance. This low-impact solution does
not interrupt peoples’ enjoyment of the beach or
impede the free movement of native animals and
the dynamic movement of sand.
D14
The group wanted to give something back to
the community and make it easy for people
to do the right thing. The local community
has embraced the track-marking, and they
appreciate the convenience of being able to find
‘their’ track home through the dunes.
The implementation of this project has reduced
the ad-hoc development of tracks through the
foreshore and enabled the natural regeneration
of degraded areas.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
A detailed maintenance plan should be developed by
the land manager before construction detailing full
responsibilities for all works. This should be assessed
and updated immediately after works are completed.
The land manager will need to allocate funds or apply
for a budget to maintain the access into the future.
Even simple access tracks require ongoing monitoring
and maintenance to identify erosion problems, trip
hazards, obstructions and overall condition of the
access.
Sharing stories
Trial Harbour community tackles impacts of tracks
through coastal dunes.
The Trial Harbour community on the remote
western coast of Tasmania was keen to combat
increasing coastal degradation caused by offroad vehicles travelling to their favourite fishing
or surfing spot. When the main track became too
bogged or eroded, drivers created new tracks,
causing serious track braiding which damaged
the vegetation and created massive dune
blowouts. Uncontrolled camping and clearing of
vegetation, damage to Aboriginal sites, littering
and effluent runoff made the problem worse.
The land management authority tried
prohibiting access through the dunes and
rehabilitating the affected areas but people kept
on driving through.
Residents and surfers joined forces in 1998
to form the Trial Harbour Coastcare Group
and received Coastcare funding. After one
good quality road was constructed down the
dunes, everyone used it and revegetating the
other areas became achievable. Blowouts
have been rehabilitated, excess tracks closed,
stable beach access provided and responsible
behaviour promoted.
This part of the coast is also a special place
to the Aboriginal community. The Coastcare
group worked with the Aboriginal community
to protect Aboriginal heritage by placing
geotextile on the road where artefacts had
become exposed.
‘The group has attempted to educate the
users of the Trial Harbour area through an
interpretation sign as well as community
involvement in the rehabilitation and
conservation works. There has been a marked
change in attitude of regular visitors and
residents, all of which participate in, or are
aware of, the group’s activities,’ Tim Callaghan,
Trial Harbour Coastcare Group.
Part D: How to do more of it D15
18.4 Consultation with
community is important
Access management often means closing or
improving some tracks that are causing problems and
changing others to match the needs of the community
or user groups, so it is important to consult with
people who might be affected and to gain community
support.
Regaining public access
In some areas private landholders have, over time,
restricted public access to the coast with structures
such as fences, or by encroachment of their gardens.
Reopening public access. Reopening public access is
a sensitive issue. Removal of fences and other illegal
structures is a matter best dealt with by the land
manager when a property changes hands.
4WD tracks at Sandy Cape on Tasmania’s remote west coast.
18.3 How can Coastcare
groups get involved?
There are a number of ways your group can support
the land manager to improve access management,
such as:
»» Keeping records of the ways that tracks and
access points are used by the community to help
inform any changes to access.
»» Monitoring existing infrastructure for damage
or maintenance requirements. You might like to
consider entering into a maintenance agreement
with the land manager through programs such as
Wildcare’s Adopt-a-Track. See More information in
Part E.
»» Providing information to the community about
coastal values and the impacts of unrestricted
access.
»» Working in partnership with the land manager to
undertake access management works.
»» Working in partnership with the land manager
to develop plans and strategies for access
management and seeking funds to assist land
managers to implement these plans.
D16
Simple structures such as bollards, posts, treated pine logs and
boulders can be used to define accessways and protect sensitive
sites. The entrance to this site at Nine Mile Beach is blocked by
bollards and boulders to prevent vehicles gaining access.
It is a good idea for land managers and Coastcare
groups to keep an eye on what properties are being
sold and make sure the real estate agent and new
owners are aware of which land is public. Encourage
real estate agents to inform prospective buyers that
public access will be restored when the property
is sold. A new owner is more likely to accept the
changes.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Acid sulfate soils
Acid sulfate soils (ASS) are naturally
occurring soils that contain iron sulfides.
When the soils are exposed to oxygen
the oxidation of the sulfides causes
sulfuric acid to be produced which can
runoff into waterways. Seawater is a
rich source of sulfates and bacterial
activity over thousands of years has
resulted in vast amounts of sulfides
being deposited in marine sediments. As
a result, in Tasmania there are extensive
areas of ASS along the coast.
Drystone walls can be used to shore up the path where slopes
are steeper.
In some places, landholders have built
environmentally insensitive accessways across public
land. These can be altered or closed when a property
is sold.
Recreational vehicle tracks
On some beaches vehicle access is required for
launching boats, in other areas vehicles may be
accessing the beach for fishing, camping, recreation
and touring. Some beaches permit access but even
where access is permitted inappropriate use can
cause damage.
Vehicles on beaches and dunes can threaten wildlife
such as beach nesting shorebirds, destroy dune
vegetation leading to blowouts and erosion and
spread weeds and soil borne diseases.
Controlling erosion caused by 4WD vehicles, quad
bikes and trail bikes driving over dunes is difficult.
One approach is to encourage drivers to use one main
track and then rehabilitate the other tracks. It may
be advisable to upgrade and stabilise the main track
to attract users, because most 4WD drivers prefer
good tracks. It is preferable to minimise the number
of times vehicle tracks cross over dune crests and
areas exposed to the prevailing winds. Dune hollows
and hind dune areas are the best places to put tracks
provided the soil is well-drained.
The installation of infrastructure in
coastal environments is at risk of
disturbing ASS which will corrode metals
and can impact on the environment.
Indicators of ASS include (but are
not limited to) cloudy-green water,
a rotten egg smell, iron staining in
waterways and gooey black sediments
in waterways.
Small scale works are unlikely to disturb
large areas but any ASS disturbance
could affect the works themselves or
cause localised contamination. Large
scale works such as developments in
ASS areas, require a management plan.
Seek specialist advice from DPIPWE if
you uncover or suspect ASS.
It is important to consider the ‘group dynamics’ of
the users. In some places used by local people and
visiting clubs, track work done by one group may be
seen as outsiders trying to restrict the locals or long
term users. It is important to include local people in
projects wherever possible.
18.5 Access control methods
There are lots of ways to manage and control access.
Your land manager will have access to information
about legislation and planning obligations and best
practice techniques. Below are some brief ideas
Part D: How to do more of it D17
Example step design. Any steps or structure must meet Australian
Standards and have the approval of the land manager. From
Coastal dune management. © NSW Department of Land and
Water Conservation 2001. More technical drawings for steps and
stairs can be found in the Coastal specification management
manual (Greenskills Inc, 2010).
for access control measures that you can use as a
foundation for talking with your land manager. Use
this information as a basis for further research about
techniques being used in other parts of Tasmania or
Australia. See Part E: More information, for a list of
other manuals and guidelines.
Signs
Any work on the coast using tools or
machinery has the potential to spread
weeds and diseases, and in some
areas to disturb acid sulfate soils. Take
precautions to minimise the risk. Seek
expert advice.
Signs are a good option for managing access. Signs
can be used to direct people to the correct track and
provide an opportunity to share messages about why
access is being controlled. Signs will usually form part
of a broader management approach that may include
track improvement, closure and fencing. Most local
councils and land managers will have a sign policy
or strategy to guide the use of signs. More information
about using signs and sign design is included in Part B:
Section 11.5.
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Track surfaces and materials
To reduce wind erosion, access tracks to the beach
should be narrow and carefully aligned to ensure they
are oblique to the dominant wind direction.
In well-protected areas with little traffic, often no
additional surface is required. In some areas, a natural
sandy track is the most attractive surface if it is not
exposed to wind erosion. In busier areas, a protective
surface is often necessary to reduce wind and water
erosion and to improve public safety.
Gravel paths can be built to allow rain to run off. Freedraining crushed rock and boulders can be used to
define the edges of the path. Generally gravel is most
suitable on fairly level paths.
Rock and gravel for walkways and lookouts are
cheaper than high maintenance timber structures.
Track erosion control
Erosion is likely to occur along sand tracks that are
poorly protected from the wind. Erosion can be
reduced by realigning the track, planting bushes to
block the wind, or laying board and chain walkways to
stop the sand from blowing away.
Water erosion of sand or gravel paths is likely to be
a problem on steep slopes especially in high rainfall
areas or where water is channelled onto the track.
Board and chain sand ladders work best if erosion is mainly by
walkers or wind, rather than waves.
Good design is paramount to minimising erosion and
reducing maintenance. Design will be unique to each
site but may involve the use of contour banks, grade
dips, grade reversals and optimal slopes.
Steps, stairs, boardwalks and sand ladders
Steps and sand ladders are especially expensive and
require high maintenance. They are not suitable in all
situations – discuss the best option with your land
manager.
Sharing stories
Friends of Adventure Bay
Since 2009 Friends of Adventure Bay has
constructed 5 ‘sand ladders’ to provide
designated and safe beach access to guide
visitors and locals away from sensitive areas
and manage pedestrian access to the foreshore.
In addition to the access management work,
Friends of Adventure Bay has also been
involved in the construction of BBQ facilitiesand
shelter, parking spaces, picnic tables, a tennis
court, small basketball court, and an outdoor
gym area. The consultation, development
and success of these projects to provide
community assets has renewed a sense of
community stewardship of the foreshore and
the natural assets.
Part D: How to do more of it D19
A simple ‘dripline’ fence is a
single wire covered in black
poly pipe tubing looped
between posts. It provides
a reasonably attractive
psychological barrier rather
than a physical barrier.
Sharing stories
On the job fencing training achieves
great results
Installing fencing requires specialist advice and
permission from the land manager. Volunteers
from Wildcare Deslacs received training on
the job from a fencing expert and staff from
Clarence City Council. Together, during their
one-day working bee and training day, they
managed to fence off the back of the dunes
at Clifton Beach to prevent inappropriate
pedestrian access.
Sharing stories
Upgraded viewing platform protects
coastal values
At Redbill Point on the east coast a stone and
gravel platform was built to manage access
to a popular surf viewing spot. Long term
access had been degrading the landscape
and impacting on coastal values including an
Aboriginal midden. The new platform helped to
protect the Aboriginal midden whilst providing a
vantage point for locals and visitors that blends
beautifully into the landscape.
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
A coastal lagoon on the east coast of Tasmania.
The spacing of steps should be appropriate for the
slope and the class of track and must meet Australian
Standards. Steps, boardwalks and ladders on sand
dunes need to be non-rigid and free to move. On
eroding beaches, a separate ‘sacrificial’ lower section
on steps and stairs can save money – only the lower
section will be damaged by storm surges, and this can
be replaced.
Heavily-used tracks on steep dunes can be protected
by laying a board and chain track or sand ladder from
the crest to the bottom. Sand ladders are flexible and
can be adjusted to the changing dune profile. They
can be suitable for pedestrian and/or vehicular tracks.
The design and placement of a sand ladder depends
on the site. If possible, place a sand ladder at the least
eroded part of the site.
Protect the edges of board and chain tracks with
scrub, jute mesh or similar materials and use
other access control measures, such as fencing, to
encourage people to stay on the track.
Shorebirds and seabirds nest
between 1 October – 31 March (some
penguin colonies are active year-round)
so it is important to contact BirdLife
Tasmania and wildlife experts such as
local PWS staff before any works are
undertaken.
Many sand ladders are not well designed – typical
problems include slats that are too close or too far
apart, ladders too steep to climb, and sand eroding
away at the bottom so it’s impossible to get on or off
the ladder. Hardwood boards will outlast treated pine
and are less inclined to warp and become hazardous.
The boards can become covered with sand quite
quickly so inspect them regularly to see whether they
need to be lifted or replaced.
Viewing platforms
It is particularly important that viewing platforms are
designed and constructed to the safety standards so
that they are not a hazard to visitors.
Viewing platforms can be interesting and attractive
structures if they are well-designed to suit the site
they are best integrated with existing structures such
as steps and boardwalks.
Fences
Fences may need to be constructed along foredunes
and hind dunes to keep people off the vegetation.
Fences are sometimes desirable to confine traffic
along accessways. There are a number of designs or
techniques that could be used. Fences require a lot
of maintenance so it is always preferable to use other
methods wherever possible to control access.
Specialised fences can be used to trap sand and help
the rebuilding of dunes. Refer to Chapter 17 Protecting
dunes and sandy coastlines.
Part D: How to do more of it D21
Fences are not recommended on the seaward side
of the foreshore as they are likely to be damaged or
washed away by storms and become hazardous.
Fencing should not restrict wildlife movement, unless
of course this is the reason for installing the fence.
There are specific fencing techniques for protecting
wildlife such as penguins.
Fencing is a specialized task, there are many
techniques and materials available. Some fencing
contractors offer workshops to train community
groups on fencing techniques. The Tasmanian
Coastal Works Manual provides more information and
guidelines for fencing in coastal areas.
19. Protecting
coastal waterways
19.1 Types of coastal waterways
19.2 Threats to coastal waterways
19.3 Protecting coastal waterways
19.4 Protecting saltmarsh
19.5 Monitoring coastal waterways
Tasmania boasts diverse and abundant
coastal wetlands, lagoons, saltmarshes
and estuaries. These coastal waterways
are important filters of land runoff and
provide habitat for coastal and marine
species such as shorebird feeding
grounds and fish nurseries.
Much of the work Coastcare groups
do on the land already contributes
to protecting the health of coastal
waterways, but there are some waterspecific activities that Coastcare
volunteers can get involved in too.
D22
Saltmarsh vegetation is highly specialised. The glossy beads of
glassworts and samphires form striking beds of colour.
19.1 Types of
coastal waterways
Coastal wetlands and estuaries offer a diverse range
of habitats with varied salinity levels (from brackish
to saline) and support unique communities of plants
and animals which are specially adapted to life at the
margin of the sea.
Estuary and coastal wetlands protect shorelines
from the impacts of storms, wind, waves, tides and
currents. They provide a physical barrier that slows
down storm surges and tidal waves, and wetland
plants bind the shoreline together, resisting erosion by
waves.
Estuaries
Estuaries are semi-enclosed coastal waterways
influenced by both freshwater and marine systems.
A number of estuaries in Tasmania support extensive
seagrass beds which stabilise coastal sediments
and are important fish nurseries. The most extensive
of these occurs at Robbins Passage in north-west
Tasmania.
Coastal waterways are diverse but all face threats
from: erosion from inappropriate stock, pedestrian
and vehicle access; pollutants; vegetation destruction;
and sea-level rise.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Saltmarshes are relatively uncommon along the
exposed and turbulent open shorelines of the west
and south-west coast, however, the numerous marine
embayments and estuaries of east and south-east
Tasmania support a number of important saltmarshes.
Some relatively small areas of salt-tolerant plants
associated with saltmarshes also occur perched on
rocky shores and at the back of beach dunes which
front higher energy swell waves (e.g. Calverts Beach,
South Arm).
Ramsar wetlands
This saltmarsh was under threat from uncontrolled access, weeds,
runoff from neighbouring suburbs, rubbish dumping (even
dumped cars!) when the local Coastcare group began to care for
it. Since this time they have fostered a sense of pride in the area
within their local community.
Wetlands
Wetlands include coastal lakes, lagoons and
saltmarshes. Ephemeral wetlands are only wet for
short periods of time and can remain dry for very long
periods.
Saltmarshes
Coastal saltmarshes are dynamic ecosystems heavily
influenced by tidal movement. Specialised saltmarsh
plants tolerate high soil salinity and periodic
inundation by marine or brackish water. Saltmarshes
are a crucial ‘link’ between terrestrial and marine
ecosystems, filtering water from the land before it
reaches the sea.
Saltmarshes supply nutrients to the estuary to
support a large diversity of invertebrates and birds.
Many migratory and resident shorebirds and waders
rely on them as resting and feeding grounds. They are
important nursery areas for a range of marine animals,
provide key buffers against storm surges and sea-level
rise and retain carbon.
Many of our coastal wetlands and estuaries have been
recognised for their additional special values. These
include several Ramsar wetlands recognised for their
migratory bird values, such as Pitt Water-Orielton
Lagoon, and Moulting Lagoon.
Management of Ramsar wetlands is in accordance
with the duties and obligations of signatories to the
Convention and is presently undertaken through the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999.
National guidelines for Ramsar wetlands are currently
being developed by the Australian Government
to provide a framework for Ramsar Convention
implementation in Australia and provide jurisdictions
and other interested parties with clear guidance on
the management of Ramsar sites.
There are 89 Tasmanian wetlands listed on the
Directory of Important Wetlands Australia (DIWA).
These wetlands have been identified largely because
of their ecological significance and include D’Arcys
Lagoon (Bruny Island), Oyster Cove, Earlham Lagoon
(near Orford), Calverts Lagoon (South Arm) and
Goulds Lagoon and Murphys Flat (on the Derwent
River). DIWA wetlands have no specific legislative
protection.
19.2 Threats to
coastal waterways
Despite the ecological and economic importance of
waterways, estuaries and wetlands they are among
the most threatened and undervalued ecosystems
in the world. In Tasmania wetlands are impacted by
catchment disturbance and land clearing, as well as
other threats.
Part D: How to do more of it D23
Best practice for working in coastal
waterways
Leave logs, branches, twigs, leaf litter, rocks
and stones. They provide food and habitat
for a range of wildlife and help to slow
water flows which can reduce erosion and
recharge groundwaters.
»» Protect vegetation buffers. When
planning revegetation activities, consider
nearby feeder creeks and work to
stabilise creek banks first as they are
most prone to erosion.
»» Undertake works when shorebirds are not
nesting and after migratory birds have
left for the year. Avoid wherever possible
bird feeding, nesting and roosting areas.
»» Minimise the risk of introducing weeds
and waterborne pests and diseases.
Ensure your footwear, tools and other
equipment are CLEAN and DRY before
you enter a site.
»» Minimise ground disturbance and control
sediment erosion during any works.
»» Work with local authorities to raise
awareness of water quality and pollution
sources.
»» Hand-weed where possible and avoid
using herbicides in or near waterways.
Where required, use those approved for
use around waterways and ideally use
paint or drill application.
»» Check all footwear and equipment before
you leave an area. Wherever possible
brush off any mud, soil or debris and
leave at the site.
»» Never move water, soil, gravel, aquatic
plants or animals (e.g. frogs, mudeyes,
fish, eels) from one site to another.
»» Avoid bringing in soil and other materials
from other sites.
»» Use gumboots and PVC waders. Feltsoled or neoprene waders/boots are
made of dense material that stays wet
for a long time and increases the risk of
introducing water-borne diseases.
A small rain garden in an n urban street is an attractive example
of Water Sensitive Urban Design.
It has been estimated that close to half of Tasmania’s
saltmarshes have already been lost or degraded. They
are often undervalued and poorly managed.
Most of Tasmania’s major cities and towns are situated
on estuaries and rivers. Their beauty and protected
waters are ideal for tourism, fisheries, aquaculture,
shipping and industry. Consequently many have
been significantly impacted by human use and
development.
Coastal waterways are threatened by pollution and
sediment loads from land clearing, road building and
pollution from industry, stormwater and wastewater.
Removal of catchment water for irrigation, industry
and drinking, along with the damming of inflowing
rivers have significantly altered the natural water
flows.
Many structures (e.g. drains, culverts, weirs, groins,
levees, embankments) obstruct or alter freshwater
or tidal flows and the movement of fish and aquatic
fauna between estuaries and inland waterways.
Loss of vegetation buffers; the introduction of
weeds, diseases; feral pests; inappropriate access by
livestock, horses and recreational vehicles; and the
dumping of rubbish are common local problems.
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Climate change and sea-level rise such as increasing
variability of in-flows, inundation, saltwater intrusion,
storm surges and increasing temperature will all
impact on coastal waterways. In addition, future
works to manage sea-level rise such as the building of
levees or embankments has the potential to further
exacerbate the pressures on these sensitive areas.
19.3 Protecting
coastal waterways
Much of the work to protect and rehabilitate coastal
waterways and wetlands involves activities that
Coastcare groups commonly undertake, such as
managing weeds and restoring vegetation. The
techniques described throughout this handbook apply
to waterways too.
Sharing stories
New Town Rivulet Catchment Care
Group – A catchment approach
Since the New Town Rivulet Catchment Care
Group formed in 1996, the rivulet has been
transformed. It was once viewed as a ‘drain’
to transport stormwater into New Town Bay as
rapidly as possible and thus prevent flooding
in urban areas. As a result water quality in the
rivulet was very poor. Banks were eroded and
dominated by weeds and there was little local
pride or presence in the Rivulet.
Members of the New Town Rivulet Catchment
Care Group observed illegal dumping of
industry effluent into the Rivulet. The group has
been crucial to ensuring that local industry is
adequately regulated to ensure any effluent is
disposed of through the sewerage system rather
than into the Rivulet.
Monitoring of macro-invertebrates is providing
evidence that the health of the rivulet has
improved. It is now a place of recreation and
wildlife with many community and school groups
involved in a range of education and rivulet
rehabilitation programs.
In line with best practice the group has worked
progressively from the top of the catchment
down towards New Town Bay. The success of the
Group is a result of ‘knowing’ their catchment,
having a clear vision and priorities, and
continuing to build positive relationships with
Council, industry and the community.
The development of The Stormwater
Management Plan: A Model for Hobart Regional
Councils: A focus on the New Town Rivulet
Catchment in 2004 by the Derwent Estuary
Program (DEP) in consultation with key land
managers, industry and the community, has
become the foundation for collaborative
management.
The Group’s future focus is gradually turning
to the mouth of the catchment, New Town
Bay. Here it is planned that vegetated swales
and buffer zones will replace the concrete
lined channel to further clean and disperse
stormwater before it enters the Bay.
Part D: How to do more of it D25
Care groups play a vital role as the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’
of coastal waterways and are often the first to notice
changes or to see illegal or damaging activities and
initiate action.
Monitoring changes is the most important activity that
Coastcare volunteers can undertake and there are a
range of monitoring techniques and tools (suitable for
coastal waterways). See Part E: More information.
In some cases, fencing may be necessary to keep
horses, livestock and recreational vehicles out of
waterways and the surrounding vegetation. Fencing
will not only control access but may prevent dumping
of soil, rubbish and chemicals.
Riparian vegetation provides a buffer around
waterways. When revegetating aim for a minimum
buffer of 50m.
Sharing stories
Enhancing the local environment while
controlling erosion and stormwater
Bellerive Bluff Land and Coastcare Group has
been working for 12 years and was the recipient
of the 2011 Tasmanian Urban Landcare Award.
Prior to their work, weeds overran the site and
stormwater overflows along Victoria Esplanade
were common, creating a hazard to drivers
and pedestrians. Much of the foreshore was
becoming eroded and degraded through
stormwater run-off. Their aim was to use natural
vegetation, landscaping and ponds to slow the
movement of stormwater through the landscape,
and trap pollutants and sediment before they
reached the estuary, and help create a place of
natural beauty and habitat.
The group worked with Clarence Council,
Tasmanian Polytechnic, Mackillop College
and Conservation Volunteers Australia to test
water quality and design and construct the
bio-retention ponds and associated
drainage system.
The project took 4 years to complete and
involved many hurdles, including failure of the
initial ponds and drains to deal with downpours
which eroded pathways and landscaping.
After much observation (sometimes during a
downpour) to understand the hydrodynamics,
the group reinforced the dam wall and installed
french drains across the slope redirecting and
further slowing water flows.
Sheer tenacity and a willingness to learn
by trial and error made this project a huge
success. They have now turned their attention
to another nearby pond and stormwater outlet.
D26
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Consider the catchment
A whole of catchment approach is best. Changes
in land management, such as fencing stock from
waterways and riparian areas and managing erosion
hotspots can make significant improvements in
water quality and habitat downstream. Collaborative
projects between landowners, managers and
community groups can address catchment issues.
When assessing the risks to local waterways
consider all possible sources of pollutants and
nutrients such as: stormwater; golf courses; septic
tanks; sewerage plants; sediment from housing
developments; oil and heavy metals from streets and
car-parks; industry effluent/run-off; and dumped
chemical and waste e.g. car tyres.
All industry is regulated by either the local council
or Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and their
operations subject to legislation to protect the
environment (including waterways). Many are
required to monitor discharges as a part of their
license to ensure that nutrients and other pollutants
are maintained at acceptable levels. Outfalls from
wastewater treatment plants are monitored by water
authorities. Data is available from your council, EPA
and water authorities if you have concerns.
Often the best management practice is to ‘leave
alone’. Work with land managers, owners and
developers to retain any existing coastal waterways
and wetlands in an undisturbed condition.
Sharing stories
Tranmere – Clarence Plains Land
& Coastcare Inc. Protection and
rehabilitation of Rokeby saltmarsh.
Tranmere - Clarence Plains Land & Coastcare
Inc. have been actively championing and
managing their local saltmarsh for many
years. The group has developed an informal
management agreement with the land owner
and has undertaken fencing, weed control and
established a vegetative buffer zone.
The site had deteriorated under previous
ownership. The livestock was removed,
Aboriginal and vegetation surveys were
undertaken and a series of grants, as well as
private funds have enabled its rehabilitation.
Site clean ups, including removal of burnt
out cars, then fencing, bouldering, weed
management and the establishment of a
vegetative buffer zone have taken place.
Signage, brochures and information kits have
been produced. Local schools participate in
planting and education days there.
Whilst many saltmarsh habitats are under
increasing threat from urban development and
human activities, here vandalism has been
reduced and developers are incorporating
water sensitive urban design.
In 2012 vegetation mapping has shown that the
area of the saltmarsh is increasing, the weeds
have decreased and the threatened species are
thriving.
Under the owner’s planning approval,
the saltmarsh area is to be retained and
maintained for conservation purposes, and
furthermore, a conservation fund to manage
the saltmarsh must be established should the
land be sold.
Part D: How to do more of it D27
Stormwater & Water Sensitive Urban Design
It is useful to identify areas where stormwater outlets
are polluting coastal waters. As well as being a source
of detergents, rubbish, and oil and petrol from roads,
such outlets can cause siltation. All these factors can
degrade marine life in the intertidal zone.
Best practice for working
in saltmarshes
In addition to the best practice
considerations for all coastal wetlands,
the following applies to saltmarshes:
Most councils monitor stormwater quality (especially
during/after rainfall events) to ensure acceptable
levels of sediment, nutrient and other pollutants are
maintained. If you are concerned contact your local
council. In southern Tasmania, reports are available
on stormwater monitoring for the greater Hobart,
Derwent Valley and Huon Valley Councils from the
Derwent Estuary Program.
»» When revegetating saltmarsh, leave
the marsh surface and the root mat
intact as much as possible.
»» Plant local species according to
the pattern of salinity and drainage
conditions. If possible replicate the
patterns of vegetation present.
»» Minimise trampling in saltmarshes as
this creates changes in soil elevation
and hydrology. Where available use
existing boardwalks or paths. Work
in tidal areas only at low tide (when
land is above water) to minimise
disturbance.
You might consider monitoring
the amount of sediment or rubbish at
stormwater outlets by taking photos,
but take extra care during (or avoid) high
rainfall events as these areas can become
dangerous.
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is the design of
urban water infrastructure to minimise environmental
impacts and optimise efficient water use. WSUD often
creates habitat and attractive landscape features
too. Many councils have engineers or other staff who
have completed WSUD training on how to design and
construct appropriate stormwater treatment options.
With the revision of planning schemes these practices
will become a requirement. The Tasmanian Coastal
Works Manual also has information on drainage and
stormwater management.
It is always cheaper and more
effective to reduce stormwater pollution
at the source. Work with Council
to educate the community about
how to dispose of household wastes
appropriately (such as leftover paints,
cleaners, engine oil, concrete and
vegetation waste).
D28
19.4 Protecting saltmarsh
Saltmarshes should be managed as part of the estuary
or wetland system as a whole. Management requires
an understanding of both land-based pressures and
sea-based pressures and the specialised habitats that
saltmarsh provide. There are however, lots of activities
that Coastcare groups can undertake to contribute
to the protection of these highly specialised
environments.
Works to protect saltmarsh should focus on the
removal of threats or disturbance and then, where
feasible, the maintenance or restoration of natural
flows.
Saltmarshes are extremely vulnerable to trampling
and disturbance. Unrestricted access by walkers,
bike riders, vehicles and grazing animals, increases
soil erosion, introduces weeds and changes the
topography and hydrology of saltmarsh flats.
Work with land managers to fence and gate access
points (such as fire trails) and erect signage explaining
the importance of saltmarsh.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Be on the lookout for the dumping of any material
(soil, gravel, rubbish) that may interfere with
freshwater or tidal flows moving in and out of the
saltmarsh, if concerned contact local authorities.
Litter can smother saltmarsh and be a hazard to
foraging and roosting wildlife. Regularly remove litter
and check saltmarshes after storms, floods and spring
tides.
A change in topography (e.g. caused
by wheel ruts) can change the species
composition. Wheel ruts persist for many
years and regeneration may require
infilling and levelling.
Get to know your saltmarsh, invite a
botanist or expert to give you a guided
tour and help you identify your local
species.
Protecting tidal flows and tidal channels within
saltmarshes ensures that tidal water, organic matter
and nutrients are moved between the marsh and
coastal waters.
Where tidal flushing is being reinstated in a saltmarsh,
leave any native plants (that have colonised as a result
of less saline conditions) in place. They will die but
their root systems will help prevent erosion while the
saltmarsh is establishing.
Sharing stories
Water quality monitoring aims to
protect saltmarsh
The Tranmere-Clarence Plains Land and
Coastcare Group have one committed volunteer
responsible for water quality monitoring,
including during and after rainfall events. They
have been monitoring the Clarence Plains Rivulet
(using turbidity, conductivity, temperature, pH
and nutrients) above the tidal limit, for four
years. Frequency of monitoring depends on
weather, but generally they monitor once about
every 2 weeks to 4 months.
They use a Dilmah Water Quality Monitoring Kit
which has basic equipment, including a turbidity
tube, thermometer, colorimeter for nitrogen and
a simple probe for conductivity. They initially
had advice on calibrating the equipment and
while accuracy with this type of equipment is
not perfect, the data provides useful information
including providing a base from which to judge
the effect of proposed developments on our
waterway.
The rivulet drains through a saltmarsh into the
Derwent Estuary, a High Conservation Value
Aquatic Ecosystem. With any development in
the Clarence Plains Catchment it is necessary to
ensure that any stormwater is properly treated
before entering the waterways.
Their advice to other groups is “you need a
basic understanding of science to undertake
water quality monitoring, however consistency
of where, when and how you monitor is the
most important ingredient to success”
Part D: How to do more of it D29
Sea-level rise and saltmarshes
If saltmarsh vegetation is to survive climate change
and sea-level rise it will need space to retreat inland to
remain within its optimal tidal range.
Grasslands behind saltmarsh provide an ideal
situation for landward migration and any grazing
pressure should be minimised to allow for this. As
stormwater canal walls, sea walls and foreshore
retaining walls behind saltmarsh come to the end
of their life, it is recommended that they either be
removed and the bank revegetated, or new structures
incorporate saltmarsh plantings.
The LIST provides LiDAR mapping (used to model
future sea-level rise in local areas) that can identify
potential saltmarsh migration pathways and refugia.
Seek expert advice to identify sites for local saltmarsh
communities to retreat.
Sharing stories
Port Esperance Coastcare Group
drives change in local industry
Port Esperance Coastcare Group’s consistent
water quality monitoring of a local lagoon has
changed the management practices of the
nearby aquaculture industry.
Over the past 4 years the Port Esperance
Coastcare Group has worked to rehabilitate a
local hidden treasure, Roaring Beach Lagoon.
The lagoon, once a popular and picturesque
spot for swimming, kayaking and boating had
become overrun with weeds, was often stagnant
and prone to algal blooms. The combined effect
of drought and the construction of several dams
on Roaring Creek (upstream of the lagoon)
had severely reduced freshwater inflows. The
dumping of rubbish had introduced weeds,
sediment and other contaminants.
With support from Council, the lagoon and
surrounds were cleared of rubbish (including
discarded roading material and weeds),
revegetated with local plant species and
landscaped. Funding was secured to purchase
water quality monitoring equipment and training
provided. A key objective of the monitoring was
to indicate that the community was interested in
the management of their local waterway.
The work has galvanised support from a growing
number of residents and provided an avenue to
express their appreciation of the area. Work has
focused on monthly water quality monitoring,
rehabilitating the lagoon surrounds and
documenting the native fauna present.
D30
Monitoring results were presented to staff
from Huon Aquaculture. As a result their
management practices changed to include
regular water releases from the upstream
dam, particularly when dissolved oxygen levels
are low. The company is looking to restore an
environmental flow which mirrors the flow of
Roaring Creek, upstream of the dams.
While monitoring (especially of dissolved
oxygen) proved to be much more difficult than
anticipated by the group, their perseverance
has paid off. The water releases combined
with moderate rainfalls over recent years and
rehabilitation of the vegetation buffer zone
around the lagoon has seen the health of the
lagoon improve considerably. Fish and eels
are now numerous and waterbirds and many
more mammals are returning. More than ninety
species of birds have been observed in the
area.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Monitoring can be extremely useful to determine the
current condition of a waterway and to alert land
managers should changes occur over time. Monitoring
will detect changes in condition that may occur slowly
and not otherwise be noticed. Monitoring can also
assess the progress of rehabilitation activities and
indicate the need for changes in management.
When assessing changes in ‘condition’ of a waterway
over time, regular monitoring of a combination
of physical and ecological indicators is best. For
example, estuarine monitoring may involve water
quality monitoring (including turbidity or total
suspended solids) in combination with the percent of
seagrass cover to assess the impact of soil erosion.
Monitoring saltmarsh vegetation can be very useful
to detect slow changes over time and assess any
rehabilitation work.
When a one-off indicative snapshot of ‘condition’ is
required, then assessment of macro-invertebrates and
photos or mapping of vegetation cover are valuable.
Revegetating saltmarsh
Most saltmarsh species will colonise a disturbed area
from an adjacent marsh and this is the ideal method.
It is cheap, involves minimal disturbance and a low
risk of introducing weeds, pests and disease. Reestablishment time will depend on the amount of seed
reaching the site (often spread by tidal flows) and
weather (e.g. ideally free of storm surges).
Non-vegetated areas within or adjacent to
saltmarshes, such as salt scalds/flats and marsh
pools, form an integral part of the saltmarsh
ecosystem. There is also an extensive algal community
that lives on the uppermost layers of the saltmarsh
substrate, (including the tidal channels and marsh
pools), which break down organic matter and provide
nutrients for the saltmarsh and marine ecosystems. It
is important to ensure these areas are also protected
from any disturbance.
19.5 Monitoring
coastal waterways
Many Coastcare groups are interested in monitoring
water quality. To gain an understanding of the health
of your waterway it is valuable to monitor a range of
indicators such as water quality, macro-invertebrates
and vegetation (within and adjacent to waterways).
Refer to Chapter 13: Monitoring and Evaluation for
information on planning a monitoring program.
Water quality
Water quality measures the physical and chemical
properties and functioning of the water, including
levels of pollutants. This is particularly important
after rainfall events when sediment and pollutants
may be washed into waterways. Results however
can be very variable depending on tide, location,
season and weather. Water quality monitoring is time
consuming and can be costly. Results can be difficult
to interpret and may not help identify what on-ground
management is required.
Sharing stories
New Town Rivulet Catchment Care Group, have
found monitoring of macro-invertebrates to be a
powerful tool to get a snapshot of the change in
condition of the rivulet over time and to educate
the community about the habitat values of their
local waterway.
Part D: How to do more of it D31
Select monitoring sites that are easy
to access and cause minimal impact.
For water quality data to be meaningful it should
generally be collected at least monthly (across all
seasons) as well as during and after rainfall and
flood events. A consistent and accurate method
using good quality (often expensive) equipment
is required. Dissolved oxygen monitoring provides
useful information but requires expensive (regularly
calibrated) equipment and a strict regime of accurate
measurements.
Turbidity, conductivity and temperature are the
water quality parameters most successfully used
by volunteer groups. They can provide a very basic
indicator of water quality and indicate when more
detailed monitoring may be worthwhile. Turbidity
in particular can indicate the presence of other
pollutants. Information on each of these parameters
can be found in the Waterwatch Tasmania Technical
Manual which also lists the recommended indicators
for different monitoring purposes.
Macro-invertebrates and other aquatic
animals
Because of their varied life cycles and limited mobility,
macro-invertebrates (seen by the naked eye) are the
most reliable biological indicator of the condition of
waterways and need only be collected twice a year
(spring and autumn) to provide useful data. They
indicate for example, the short to long term impact of
pollution at a site and give an idea of available habitat
and water quality. They are cheap and relatively
easy to assess once initial training on collecting and
identifying animals is undertaken.
Simple identification tools/charts enable a ‘rough’
assessment to be undertaken with no training
required. Refer to the Waterwatch Tasmania
Technical Manual.
Methods are also available for assessing other animal
life in estuaries, these include crab burrows, snails
(rocky shores) and shorebirds. See Chapter 20 and
Part E: More information.
Vegetation and buffer zones
Vegetation is important both in providing habitat
and other resources for animals living in and around
waterways, and protects water quality by acting as a
buffer from surrounding land uses. Initial assessment
of vegetation cover can be very helpful in determining
potential problems, and regular monitoring (every few
years, or more often if major changes are occurring)
can detect changes.
The physical features, type and extent of vegetation
and organic litter within and adjacent to waterways
can all be assessed.
Monitoring Saltmarsh
A simple transect monitoring method for saltmarsh
vegetation is described in the Waterwatch Australia
National Technical Manual – Module 7 Estuarine
Monitoring. The Vegetation Condition Assessment
is another useful tool for monitoring saltmarsh
vegetation communities, however it requires someone
trained in the method to determine the vegetation
type and conduct the assessment. Refer to TASVEG
benchmarks for saline aquatic herbland (AHS), saline
sedgeland/rushland (ARS), succulent saline herbland
(ASS). Available on the DPIPWE website.
A southern Tasmanian coastal saltmarsh database is
available from NRM South. The database covers most
catchments where saltmarshes have been recorded:
Derwent Estuary-Bruny, Huon, Little Swanport, Pitt
Water-Coal, Prosser, Swan-Apsley and Tasman. Data
includes mapping of the current extent of saltmarsh,
the potential future extent under sea-level rise (SLR)
conditions. It also includes key environmental and
management information.
A reliable method exists for assessing macroinvertebrate in freshwater rivers and creeks
(AUSRIVAS), and a method is currently being
developed for wetlands, including coastal lagoons.
D32
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
20.Protecting
wildlife
Wildlife Emergency
Contacts
WILDLIFE HOTLINE
6233 6556 (24 hrs)
WHALE HOTLINE
0427 WHALES (0427 942 537)
This is a 24 hr monitored service for calls
of all marine mammal sightings and
strandings.
RSPCA
6244 3033 or 1300 139 947
BONORONG WILDLIFE HOTLINE
(southern areas): 6268 1184 (24 hrs)
20.1
20.2
20.3
20.4
20.5
20.6
20.7
20.8
20.9
20.10
20.11
Tasmania’s unique coastal wildlife
Shorebirds and small seabirds
Threats to shorebirds
Protecting shorebirds
Penguins, shearwaters and other seabirds
Protecting shearwaters
Protecting little penguins
Working in little penguin habitat
Recreation and protecting wildlife
Fishing and boating guidelines
Helping injured wildlife
Our coastlines support many animals
that are specially adapted for life on
the coast but ill-equipped to survive
elsewhere. Coastal wildlife can be
threatened by people, dogs, cats,
feral pests, litter, pollution and loss of
habitat. Protecting local wildlife and
their habitats is a rewarding activity for
many Coastcare groups.
It is also important to ensure that
other Coastcare activities do not have
unforeseen impacts on coastal wildlife.
Much of the information in this chapter has been
adapted from the Tasmanian Coastal Works Manual.
20.1 Tasmania’s
unique coastal wildlife
Tasmania’s areas of natural coastline support diverse
and important coastal wildlife. Tasmania is home to
breeding shorebirds, penguins and shearwaters and
provides habitat for a number of visiting migratory
birds. Sediment dwelling invertebrates in the intertidal
zone are the primary food source for many shorebirds
Part D: How to do more of it D33
Plan to protect
Identify all coastal species in the area
when planning activities. Will your
activity impact on these species? Works
to protect one species could result in
impacts on another.
Identify any threatened species. Search
the EPBC database and the threatened
species lists on the DPIPWE website.
Are assessments and approvals
required? Seek expert advice and be
sure to follow any recovery plans.
Time your activities carefully to
minimise impacts on wildlife. (e.g.
avoid working on shorebird breeding
beaches during October to March
when birds are breeding).
Minimise damage to habitat during any
works and rehabilitate afterwards, plan
to monitor and follow-up to ensure
rehabilitation is successful.
Ensure all people participating in
activities (e.g. volunteers, contractors
etc) are aware of any sensitive species
or habitat.
and waders. A number of seal species visit our shores,
and New Zealand and Australian fur seals regularly
haul out on offshore islands. Whales migrate along the
coast and sadly sometimes strand on our beaches.
Many mammals inhabit coastal vegetation, with
small mammals such as echidnas, bandicoots and
bettongs quite common in some coastal areas even
among built-up communities. Skinks and snakes live
in coastal areas and some reptile species are unique
to the offshore islands they inhabit. Frogs are an
important coastal wetland inhabitant. Many marine
species are endemic to Tasmanian waters and a
number of marine protected areas around Tasmania
provide some protection to these unique temperate
marine animals.
Threatened species
All Tasmanian species are protected under the
Nature Conservation Act 2002 and marine species
are protected under the Living Marine Resources
Management Act 1995. Some species are listed
as threatened and are further protected by the
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. Some of
these threatened species have recovery plans or
threat abatement plans.
Tasmania has more than 35 threatened fauna species
including the white-bellied sea eagle, fairy tern,
and New Zealand fur seal. Threatened invertebrates
include the live-bearing seastar, only found in three
intertidal locations and the chequered blue butterfly,
that relies on saltmarsh plants. Many are protected
by the Commonwealth Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Act 1999.
Observations and sightings of
uncommon or rare shorebirds such as
hooded plovers, fairy terns, little terns
and migratory waders are of great
interest to BirdLife Tasmania. Reports
of the number of birds and their
location would be appreciated. Survey
forms are available.
The white-bellied sea eagle is a striking figure on Tasmania’s
coastline. In Tasmania they are listed as Vulnerable under the
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 © Alan Fletcher
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
20.2 Shorebirds
and small seabirds
Shorebirds are coastal birds that breed on beaches
and forage on the shoreline and in wetland areas.
Plovers, sandpipers, curlews and oystercatchers feed
on coastal mudflats, estuaries, beaches and tidal
reefs. Small seabirds such as little terns and fairy
terns are also considered here, due to their nesting
behaviour on sandy beaches.
Red-capped plovers breed on Tasmanian beaches and sandspits
and frequent saltmarsh areas.
It is an offence to ‘take’ a threatened
species without a permit. It is illegal
to kill, injure, catch, damage, destroy,
collect (and in some cases destroy
critical habitat for) a threatened species.
Some shorebirds live here all year-round, while others
are regular migrants that travel from their breeding
grounds in the northern hemisphere to spend the
summer in Tasmania. These migratory birds need
to feed and replenish their fat reserves for the long
return journey. Altering habitat or disturbing the birds
reduces their opportunities for feeding and resting,
which could delay or prevent successful migration.
Sharing stories
Rubicon Coast and Landcare Inc
providing Land for Wildlife.
The Aubrey Luck Reserve was gifted to Latrobe
Council by the Luck Family Trust to be retained
as a public open space. It is 3 ha of remnant
native bushland, mostly Allocasuarina and
forms part of a natural corridor along the coast.
The understorey has a high diversity of plant
species.
The Rubicon Coast and Landcare group who
manage Rubicon Reserve and Aubrey Luck
Reserve were keen to register them as Land for
Wildlife to increase public awareness of the
importance of the reserves in protecting wildlife
species and habitat. They were both registered
June 2008.
One of the entrances to the Aubrey Luck
Reserve consisted of a house sized block of land
infested with exotic plants. This was weeded
and planted out with local native species. The
group aimed to label plants and have seating
to encourage people to sit and quietly observe
birdlife. The group wanted to show people how
these plants would look and grow in their own
gardens. The reserve was registered in July 2011
as Garden for Wildlife to increase awareness
and to encourage locals to plant native species
and provide habitat for wildlife in their own
gardens.
It is a favoured place for people to walk and
observe wildlife, and a chance to see remnant
bush in a coastal area that has become
increasingly residential.
Part D: How to do more of it D35
Migratory bird species
Common name
Scientific name
International bird agreements
bar tailed godwit
caspian tern
Limosa lapponica
Hydroprogne caspia formerly
Sterna caspia
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
curlew sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
eastern curlew
Numenius madagascariensis
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
fleshy-footed shearwater
Puffinus carneipes
JAMBA, ROKAMBA
great knot
Calidris tenuirostris
JAMBA, CAMBA
greenshank
Tringa nebularia
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
grey plover
Pluvialis squatarola
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
grey-tailed tattler
Latham’s snipe
Tringa brevipes
Capella hardwickii formerly
Gallinago hardwickii
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
lesser golden plover
Pluvialis dominica
JAMBA, CAMBA
lesser sand plover
Charadrius mongolus
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
pectoral sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
JAMBA, ROKAMBA
red-necked stint
Calidris ruficollis
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
ruddy turnstone
Arenaria interpres
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
short-tailed shearwater
Puffinus tenuirostris
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
terek sandpiper
Xenus cinereus
JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA
Table 20.1 Migratory bird species that make the annual migration to Tasmania during the northern hemisphere winter. Reproduced from
Tasmanian Coastal Works Manual
Hooded plovers, pied oystercatchers and the
endangered little terns and fairy terns nest just above
high water mark on dunes, beaches and spits. They
are especially vulnerable to disturbance during their
summer breeding season and have a hard time finding
safe places due to the increasing use of beaches
for walking, running, dog walking, horse riding and
driving. These activities threaten eggs and newly
hatched chicks, which are so well camouflaged that
they are almost impossible to detect on the sand.
Many shorebirds and small terns such as the fairy
tern and little tern are listed as threatened species in
the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. Others
such as hooded plovers are rapidly decreasing in
breeding numbers throughout much of Tasmania.
Threats are common to all species of shorebird and
terns and include destruction/loss of habitat due to
coastal development, and destruction or disturbance
from recreational activities such as horse riding and
vehicles.
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
Signs that nesting
shorebirds are present
Nests are (relatively) easily located by
behaviour of birds (calls etc.) and their
footprints in the sand leading to/from
the nest.
Nesting birds may distract you e.g. pied
oystercatchers will make alarm calls to
their partners and chicks, some will fly
at you.
Terns will ‘attack’ you, swooping low
over your head, calling and appearing
very ‘excited’ (actually very agitated
and distressed. etc) are aware of any
sensitive species or habitat.
PART D How to do more of it
Migratory shorebirds
Many coastal areas in Tasmania are important feeding
and resting sites for migratory shorebirds avoiding
the harsh northern hemisphere winter of the Arctic
tundra.
Every year from September to March a number of
migratory bird species visit our shores to rest and
replenish fat reserves for their long migration back to
breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.
Sites such as Ralphs Bay in the south-east, Robbins
Passage in the north-west, Moulting Lagoon on the
east coast and Pittwater–Orielton Lagoon in the
south-east are very important migratory bird habitats.
Fairy tern chick in nest-scrape on the beach. The tiny chicks can
be difficult to see when camouflaged amongst the shell grit.
Resident shorebirds
Many Tasmanian beaches are important nesting
areas for resident shorebirds and seabirds between
1 October and 31 March each summer. Shorebird eggs
are laid in shallow scrapes in the sand. They are hard
to spot and can be easily squashed by vehicles or
underfoot.
Young chicks are flightless for up to seven weeks
(depending on species) and will run to the dunes,
nearest vegetation or water to hide. Nests are small
(around 10 cm for plovers, smaller for terns) and well
camouflaged. Nest are typically located at the base of
foredunes, above high-water mark and wrack, but can
also be in light vegetation.
Tasmania supports four resident shorebirds:
Australian pied oystercatcher (Haematopus
longirostris), sooty oystercatcher (Haematopus
fuliginosus), hooded plover (Thinornis rubricollis) and
red-capped plover (Charadrius ruficapillus).
Little terns (Sternula albifrons sinensis) and fairy terns
(Sternula nereis nereis), although strictly seabirds,
are included in shorebird protection programs
because they nest on beaches and are subject to the
same threats acting on shorebirds. Caspian terns
(Hydroprogne caspia formerly Sterna caspia) also
breed on Tasmanian beaches but nests are rarely
seen.
Migratory birds travel on an established route known
as the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. Birds on the
flyway make an annual migration of over 25 000 km,
some flying for more than 10 000km non-stop.
All migratory shorebirds are listed in the Australian
Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 and under international
migratory bird agreements and the Ramsar
Convention.
Migratory Bird Agreements
Australia is a signatory to the Japan-Australia
Migratory Birds Agreement (JAMBA), the ChinaAustralia Migratory Birds Agreement (CAMBA) and
the Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Birds
Agreement (ROKAMBA).
These international bird agreements have been
established to help achieve important conservation
outcomes for migratory birds. They are bilateral
agreements between two countries and more work is
needed to influence conservation outcomes across
their migratory path (flyway) which extends through
multiple countries.
In Australia all migratory bird species listed in
these bilateral agreements are protected under
the Commonwealth Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Many important migratory bird habitats are protected
under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971).
Australia is a signatory to the intergovernmental
treaty that provides the framework for international
cooperation for the conservation and wise use
of wetlands.
Part D: How to do more of it D37
20.3 Threats to shorebirds
Don’t disturb the birds
Shorebirds are especially vulnerable to disturbance
and habitat loss. Development of coastal areas and
increased recreation on beaches are threatening these
unique and special birds. Many threats to shorebirds
can be reduced by changing our behaviour.
»» Time works to avoid the shorebird
breeding season if possible
(sometimes the best time to
manage weeds clashes with the
shorebird season).
»» Minimise time spent working in
breeding territory or close to nests,
eggs and chicks, to reduce the time
adults are away from nests, eggs
and chicks.
»» Avoid disturbing nesting birds at night
to prevent eggs chilling. The beach
cools rapidly at night and eggs left
unattended will fail.
»» Assume that nests, eggs and chicks
are present even if you haven’t
found them: reduce your time at the
top of the beach to the minimum
time required to remove weeds or
undertake works.
»» Travel along the tide line, preferably
limiting intense activities to low
tide to keep people away from
nesting birds.
»» Avoid damage to the dune landscape
that may affect the profile of the
dunes and make it difficult for young
birds to seek shelter.
Shorebird eggs and chicks are extremely camouflaged
and are easily trampled by walkers, horses and
vehicles on beaches. Particular human activities such
as taking 4WD vehicles and horses onto beaches can
be devastating to nesting shorebirds.
Nesting birds will see people approaching from a
distance of 100 m or more (long before you see them)
and will leave their nests, eggs and chicks. Exposed
eggs and chicks will cook on hot sunny days, and chill
on cool/wet days; both result in breeding failure. Terns
may abandon the colony if disturbed, so it is critical to
avoid disturbing nesting adults.
Exposed eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predation
by gulls and forest ravens and possibly currawongs.
All dogs are predators of both chicks and eggs.
Disturbance and predation by feral or uncontrolled
animals such as dogs, cats and foxes threaten
shorebirds and seabirds. Domestic and feral cats kill
high numbers of birds every year. Even well-behaved
dogs, if they are allowed to run off-lead, are a threat.
Just the sight of a dog can be enough to frighten and
disturb birds from their feeding and nesting sites.
Shorebirds also face threats from climate change
impacts. Sea-level rise and increased storm frequency
will result in the modification of suitable breeding
beaches. Tidal flats and wetland areas that are used
as feeding and resting sites will be modified by coastal
erosion and inundation.
20.4 Protecting shorebirds
Shorebirds have a better chance of breeding
successfully if we encourage people to walk on the
wet sand away from the upper beach. We can do
this by spreading the word about shorebirds and why
they are such a special part of Tasmania’s coastline.
Signage and information brochures can help to alert
local residents and visitors to the bird values in the
area and foster a sense of appreciation for these
unique animals.
D38
Another good strategy is to erect simple temporary
‘fences’ with garden stakes and baling twine to
provide at least a 20 m buffer zone around each nest.
These fences are cheap and easy to install, and easy
to replace or relocate if taken by high tides.
Any fencing needs to be undertaken with caution
as it draws attention to the nest, so education or
awareness-raising is essential. At popular events
such as surf carnivals, temporary fencing works best
when volunteers or land management staff can be on
hand to watch over the sites and inform beach users
about shorebird values and threats. Contact the land
manager and Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania before
erecting any sort of fence.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Monitoring shorebirds
BirdLife Tasmania undertakes annual monitoring of
shorebird numbers and breeding success. Your group
might want to get involved and can assist by providing
information to BirdLife Tasmania when working in
shorebird areas.
Useful data includes:
»» reports of nesting shorebirds and small terns,
including GPS data and estimates of numbers
»» reports of migratory shorebirds – estimates of
numbers/species
»» evidence of entanglement – photographs.
Shorebird eggs, like these of the hooded plover, are laid in simple
scrapes in the sand.
BirdLIfe Tasmania can provide data sheets and bird
identification guides, and possibly assist in the
identification of carcasses.
Remember. DO NOT disturb birds
when you are collecting data.
20.5 Penguins, shearwaters
and other seabirds
Seabirds feed and spend most of their time at sea but
they come ashore to nest. Short-tailed shearwaters
and little penguins nest in burrows excavated in stable
sand dunes. Penguins will use almost any shelter
to nest under, even structures made by humans.
Shearwater colonies are also present on some
headlands. You can help them breed successfully by
staying clear to avoid frightening birds and damaging
their shallow nesting burrows.
A simple temporary fence and sign helps to protect nests.
Unfortunately, hooded plover chicks can run quite
a way along the beach, so fences offer only partial
protection.
Consider providing artificial shelters for breeding
birds and their young. Techniques can be found in A
practical guide for managing beach-nesting birds in
Australia.
Gulls, most terns, albatrosses, white-breasted sea
eagles, black-faced cormorants and other seabirds
seek safety by nesting on islands. They should be left
alone during the breeding season (usually spring and
summer).
Silver gulls are becoming a pest in urban areas. They
pollute water supplies and are displacing terns from
their breeding sites. Signs can be put up to educate
people not to feed them.
Part D: How to do more of it D39
Little penguins are found in colonies around Tasmania, many of
them close to semi-urban areas.
Incredible journey
Short-tailed shearwaters fish at sea and
are often seen in large groups known
as rafts. The parents return each night
to their chicks in the burrow to feed
them. Before the chicks have matured,
the parents leave them to begin the
annual migration to the Arctic and
the chicks remain in the burrow for a
further month. The chicks do not feed,
but live off their fat reserves whilst they
grow their flight feathers. When they
are ready the chicks leave their burrow
and then incredibly they make their
first journey to the Arctic completely
unguided without their parents. If they
survive they will return to the same
colony to breed.
Shearwater chick.
20.6 Protecting shearwaters
Short-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) are
migratory seabirds that breed on headlands around
Tasmania from September to April. They make an
annual round trip of about 30 000 km between the
Arctic and south-eastern Australia.
About 18 million shearwaters arrive in Tasmania each
year to breed and adult birds return to the same
burrow throughout their lifetime. Like penguins, chicks
remain in the burrow whilst the parents feed at sea.
Colonies are found on headlands along the coast
including the islands in Bass Strait.
D40
Image: shearwater lifecycle and
migration map.
Shearwaters are vulnerable to habitat destruction
here in Tasmania and other threats along their
migratory route. Livestock have destroyed colonies
and soil erosion after fire or from recreational vehicles
can severely damage suitable colony sites. Up to 50
000 birds drown annually in gill net fisheries in the
North Pacific.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Whilst in their burrows, the chicks are vulnerable to
attack from dogs, cats and now foxes. Burrows are
fragile and can easily collapse if walked on.
The shearwaters are an important part of
contemporary Aboriginal culture. Chicks are harvested
annually from their burrows for their prized meat and
oil. The Aboriginal community, in collaboration with
DPIPWE staff, manages the harvest and strict controls
are in place to prevent overharvesting, including
season limits.
20.7 Protecting
little penguins
Tasmania and our offshore islands support breeding
colonies of little penguins. These seabirds hold a
fascination for many people, perhaps in part because
they have adapted to nest in semi-urban areas.
However this also puts them at risk from traffic, dogs,
cats and destruction of burrows.
Understanding their life cycle is important when
working around penguin habitat to minimise
disturbance.
Moulting penguins can look abnormal, but should be left alone
unless in danger.
Plan works in penguin
habitat carefully
Plan works carefully. Consider all of the
issues and uses associated with the area
to ensure problems can be solved in a
strategic and comprehensive way.
Consider:
Cats, both domestic and wild,
kill large numbers of birds and small
mammals. Even a well fed pet is likely to
hunt if allowed to wander.
Life cycle of little penguins
Little penguins breed in colonies that can vary in size
from a few birds to over a thousand. Nests may vary
from a scrape under vegetation, amongst rocks and
even under buildings. Birds breed annually between
August and February, but in eastern Australia the usual
clutch of two eggs may be laid as early as May or as
late as November.
Male penguins return to either renovate old burrows or
to dig new ones between May and August depending
on the food availability and other factors of the
season. Noisy male courting displays greet arriving
female penguins. Although only one mate is chosen,
they may not be their sole partner for life.
»» presence or absence of little penguins
»» timing of works
»» revegetation planning, such as staged
removal of weeds and ensuring that
adequate habitat is always available.
Identify vegetation types used by
penguins for their habitat
»» native coastal species
»» introduced species
»» species where penguin habitat occurs
»» safe use of chemicals for weed control
»» installing artificial burrows or igloos
»» penguin fencing
»» public works, infrastructure and
maintenance required
»» vegetation maintenance such as
mowing and slashing
»» other recreational uses such as
camping and overnight parking of
campervans and caravans.
Part D: How to do more of it D41
Within another 2 or 3 weeks they are ready to move to
the sea, where they will grow to maturity. These young
birds may return to their original colonies to breed
when they are about 2 years old.
Once chick rearing is complete, adult birds return to
the sea to feed for about 15–21 days before returning to
commence moulting.
Penguins usually moult between February and April.
Moulting can take up to 15 days when old feathers
are shed and new feathers are grown. During the
entire moulting event, birds remain on land in their
burrows living off their food reserves. The penguins
are particularly vulnerable at this time and at risk of
starvation or predation.
Coastal wattle (Acacia sophorae) may not be suitable in
southern Tasmania, where the lower branches tend to sprawl over
the ground, putting down roots to form a tangled thicket difficult
for penguins to walk through.
In successful years, two clutches might be reared in
one season, which is unusual among penguins. The
penguin pair share incubation shifts of usually 1–2 days
and hatching takes place within 33–37 days. About
60% of the eggs successfully hatch.
When 5 weeks old, the chicks are left unguarded by
parents and at night can be seen outside burrows
waiting to be fed by both parents.
20.8 Working in
little penguin habitat
If you are unsure whether penguins are present in the
area when you plan to work, contact the local NRM or
community facilitators within your local council, PWS
and NRM regional office.
There are a number of resources for guiding works
in little penguin habitat to help land managers and
community groups adopt best practice techniques.
Seek expert advice. More information In Part E: More
information.
Develop a plan of action and incorporate best
management practices to ensure sufficient habitat
protection for little penguins is available at all times.
Sharing stories
Keeping penguins on the safe side
Little penguins live and breed along the narrow
coastal strip between Cooee and Camdale
in northwest Tasmania in a highly urbanised
environment. The penguins were being killed
while crossing the busy Bass Highway and
railway line to find nesting sites. With Coastcare
funding and help from the Burnie City Council,
Green Corps and Conservation Volunteers
Australia, the Cooee to Camdale Coastcare
D42
Group erected a continuous fence for 2.2
kilometres to restrict the penguins to the
seaward side of the railway line. The group
regularly monitors the numbers of penguins
and chicks in the area and maps their burrows.
Fifty artificial burrows have been installed to
provide extra nesting habitat.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Are there penguins?
Timing of works
Telltale signs of penguins being present are well-worn
runways, evidence of scats (white faecal matter in
3–5 cm streaks), footprints and the noise they make
at night. Feathers can be seen around the entrance
of burrows or resting spots during the moulting time.
Many times penguins can be smelt (a fishy odour)
before they’re found. Depending on the time of the
year checks should be carried out more than once,
just in case an absence of birds on first inspection may
be falsely taken as no presence of birds.
It is important to ensure that there is minimal
disturbance to the birds at all times especially during
the breeding and moulting seasons (generally August
to April). There is a very small window of opportunity
to undertake works (revegetation, weeding and
construction).
Before starting any work in an area it
is important that the site is checked by a
Parks and Wildlife Officer or authorised
penguin biologist. They can determine
the presence of birds and their lifecycle
stage. Planned works must be approved
and may need to be adapted to minimise
disturbance.
Recent survey results have found that not all birds
leave the coast during the months of May–July and
there are always some birds present for a variety of
reasons. As a general rule the more mature birds
can start breeding at the beginning of June and can
produce two clutches. This is totally dependent on
seasons and food supply. Birds have been found to
be still raising chicks as late as April in some breeding
seasons. Breeding is not synchronous throughout the
colony but can be quite variable.
Revegetation in penguin habitat
Penguins nest under introduced species especially
types that offer cover and protection such as cape ivy,
boxthorn, boneseed, blackberry and mirror bush.
Weed removal must be gradual and needs to be
undertaken simultaneously with revegetation to ensure
sufficient nesting habitat is provided at all times. Plan
your revegetation from May to July, again depending
on the absence or presence of penguins.
The best months for working in
penguin habitat are from May to July as
long as the birds have finished raising
chicks and have completed their moult.
Avoid working in and around a penguin
colony during nesting, breeding and
moulting times of the year.
If the majority of vegetation providing habitat for a
penguin colony is introduced species, then careful
long-term planning must be undertaken.
Monitoring use of artificial penguin burrows.
For revegetation, it is highly recommended that
indigenous coastal species be used from seed
collected in the local area. Species should reflect
native species growing in the area.
Part D: How to do more of it D43
Where boxthorn is present, and used for nesting,
gradually remove by cutting and painting with
herbicide leaving the dead skeleton in place
wherever possible. This retains the root system and
the branches, which continue to provide valuable
habitat for the penguins and maintains soil stability.
Tetragonia can be planted to grow over the dead
boxthorn to provide further cover.
Use of chemicals
Checks need to be made that no penguins are present
prior to spraying weeds. If chemicals are used, they
should be specific to the weed(s), with minimal harm
to other plants and fauna present, such as frogs.
Artificial burrows or igloos
These can be used as a last resort where there is
insufficient natural nesting habitat, or if the habitat
is degraded (e.g. by coastal erosion). They should
be camouflaged with dead vegetation and native
creepers such as Tetragonia. Consult your facilitator
within your local council or NRM regional office,
wildlife management staff within DPIPWE or PWS
officers for information on these alternatives.
Penguin fencing
If penguins need to be kept away from roads, effective
barriers can be made from 25 mm chicken mesh
fastened to fencing wire with ring fasteners and
strained tightly between star pickets. The easiest
way to strain the fence is back to a picket stay. Safety
caps must be placed on top of star pickets to protect
people.
The fence should end at some structure or natural
feature that the birds cannot get past, or you could
angle the last section of the fence back towards the
sea, well past the nesting area. Brace the corners of
the fence, and where it changes direction, with short
sections of star picket and pegs secured by wiring.
To deal with unevenly sloping ground, insert a post at
each change of slope, cut the mesh at the post and
attach another piece of mesh.
Pedestrian openings should ideally be away from
penguin areas but if this is not possible, fit a small gate
(constructed by a local metal fabricator) to exclude
dogs.
The key to good penguin fencing is to have a skilled
supervisor.
The fence should be built with 600 mm high mesh
that is buried 100 mm into the ground – or in hard
ground, turn up the lower 100 mm (toward the sea)
and weigh it down with rocks or pin it down very
securely. Another way to deal with changes in slope
is to partly cut the mesh, bend it to suit the slope and
overlap the cut ends, securing them by folding them
into the fence.
Penguin fencing constructed by volunteers at one
location had to be redone because it wasn’t inserted
deeply enough into the ground, and penguins could
dig under it.
D44
Ensure gravel or works debris is
not piled up along roadsides or along
railways as these obstacles impede
penguins trying to cross.
Keep the fence clear of vegetation or objects that the
birds can use as platforms to hop over it – penguins
are quite athletic. If any birds get stuck on the wrong
side of the fence, provide a temporary ramp of rocks
or boards so they can escape.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Public works, infrastructure
and maintenance
When Councils or other agencies need to undertake
works, due care must be taken if penguins are
nesting nearby. The Parks and Wildlife Service must
be contacted so that the area can be investigated
for the presence of little penguins and management
advice provided. Avoid leaving rock or gravel within or
adjacent to penguin colonies. Ensure that any debris
from work activities is removed.
Mowing and slashing
Before mowing or slashing, check that there are no
penguins in grassy areas near bushes or rocks. If the
grass is high, check the whole area. The Parks and
Wildlife Service must be contacted so that the area can
be investigated for the presence of little penguins and
management advice provided.
Overnight parking of campervans and
caravans
It is recommended that overnight stops for
campervans and caravans be kept away from little
penguin colonies, as quite often penguins’ nightly
activities, such as feeding chicks, are interrupted.
20.9 Recreation and
protecting wildlife
When enjoying our coasts there are simple things we
can do to minimise our impact on native wildlife.
Coastcare volunteers can use these simple messages
to teach locals and visitors about the coastal wildlife
found in their area and how best to protect them.
Shorebirds are particularly vulnerable to human
disturbance.
20.10 Fishing and
boating guidelines
Fishing regulations help to reduce over-fishing.
Check the regulations, as they change often. They are
available from Service Tasmania and fishing outlets and
on the DPIPWE website. See Part E: More information.
Fishing is not permitted in marine reserves, which are
like underwater national parks.
Tips to protect wildlife
»» Take your litter away with you –
plastics and hooks can be ingested
by mammals and seabirds. Animals
starve or birds may regurgitate litter
when they feed chicks.
»» Pick up any marine debris you see on
the beach and dispose of it safely.
Wildlife can become entangled in nets
and other rubbish.
»» Don’t bury scraps from cleaning fish
because seabirds or dogs will uncover
them.
»» Don’t leave fishing tackle such as line
and hooks at the beach or on jetties
– they can entangle wildlife and even
kill them. People could step on them
too.
»» Excessive bait gathering takes food
away from wildlife, so only take what
you need.
»» Look at, but don’t touch rock pool and
other intertidal life – these fascinating
creatures no longer exist in some
places due to collection for bait and
food.
»» Do not feed fishing scraps to seabirds
or seals.
When fishing, take care to protect birds from fishing
lines and hooks. If you hook a bird, take it to a vet or
call the Wildlife Hotline. Take care not to lose tackle,
which can entangle wildlife.
The Wild Fisheries Branch of
DPIPWE promotes responsible and
sustainable fishing practices through the
Fishcare Tasmania program. Volunteers
conduct fisheries education in schools,
fisheries awareness events, patrols and
responsible fishing clinics.
Part D: How to do more of it D45
Tips to protect wildlife
»» Use existing tracks and don’t walk
on sand dunes to avoid treading on
nesting shorebirds or destroying
penguin burrows.
»» Stay at least 50 m away from wildlife –
fleeing from people uses up precious
energy needed to rear their young.
»» Walk on wet sand on beaches from
1 October to 31 March to avoid
disturbing nests.
»» Avoid taking your 4WD vehicle onto
dunes, where it may destroy feeding
or nesting birds. Where vehicles are
permitted, drive on wet sand.
»» Leave seaweed, driftwood and
piles of shells on the beach – they
camouflage nests and feed and
shelter sandhoppers and other small
animals.
»» Do not feed wildlife. Human food
scraps can harm wildlife and
encourage seagulls to hang around in
pest proportions.
»» Keep your dog on a lead and well away
from the upper beach in the spring–
summer breeding season. Even friendly
dogs can frighten birds from their
nests.
»» Keep your cat inside at night to
avoid predation on birds and small
marsupials. Desex your cat so it doesn’t
produce unwanted kittens.
»» Ensure your dog does not roam and
hunt, kill or stress penguins and other
wildlife.
»» Find out where you are allowed to
take your dog by contacting your local
council or PWS office. A ‘No Dogs’ sign
may mean birds are nesting on or near
the beach.
»» Reduce vehicle and boat speeds, don’t
beach your craft on sandbanks near
shorebirds and stay well away from
flocks of birds.
Some fishing places have facilities for cleaning fish.
Otherwise clean your fish at home. Don’t bury remains
because they will be uncovered by the tide, seabirds
or dogs.
Allow seal and seabirds to breed in peace by not
landing near colonies or rookeries. Some islands are
designated Nature Reserves set aside for seabird
breeding and other wildlife values. In general, people
cannot visit Nature Reserves that have been declared
‘restricted areas’ by a management plan. Permission
must first be obtained by writing to the Director of
the Parks and Wildlife Service and is usually granted
only for educational or research purposes. This helps
to control and monitor access to sensitive sites and
assists in their management.
Migrating humpback or southern right whales may be
seen May to July and September to November. Avoid
alarming whales by going slowly and keep at least 100
m away. Whale watching guidelines are available from
PWS and DPIPWE.
D46
Pacific Gull entangled and drowned fishing line and drowned.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Whale strandings are unfortunately not uncommon on some Tasmanian beaches. Staff from DPIPWE and PWS coordinate volunteer efforts
to assist in whale rescues.
Motorised boats can increase shoreline erosion in
susceptible waterways, particularly when driven at
high speed. There are regulations about boat speeds,
enforced by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST).
Boats, including kayaks, enable access to less
populated coastlines. People using boats should take
extra care to minimise any disturbance to the wildlife
and habitat when visiting offshore islands or remote
shorelines.
There are information brochures available to guide
boat users about minimising impacts on coastal
values.
»» Use existing campsites and tracks whenever
possible.
»» Do not drag boats or kayaks through undisturbed
vegetation.
»» Use a fuel stove for cooking.
»» Bury human waste, consider disposal at sea or
taking it with you.
»» Avoid using soap or detergents. Beach sand is an
excellent alternative for cleaning cookware.
»» Do not disturb wildlife, keep 100 m from whales/
dolphins in your boat, do not walk through bird
colonies or rookeries.
20.11 Helping injured wildlife
Wildlife can be injured by road accidents,
entanglement in marine debris, oil spills, attacks from
dogs or cats, boating accidents or sadly sometimes
through cruelty. Sometimes animals are left orphaned.
The best thing you can do for injured or resting wildlife
is to keep people and dogs away while you phone the
local Parks and Wildlife Service, the Wildlife Hotline or
a vet.
Seabirds are the most likely animal to be found injured
or orphaned on the shore.
Injured or orphaned animals
With smaller wildlife, if you cannot get professional
help in the first 24 hours, and feel confident you can
help, you could follow the procedures on the DPIPWE
website. Most of our wildlife is protected and can only
be rehabilitated with a permit available from DPIPWE.
Before attempting to capture the animal, look for
physical signs of injury or illness, such as a hanging
wing or drooping head, this information may help the
vet or wildlife officer identify the problem.
A frightened animal may attack with claws, wings,
beak or teeth so do not try to rescue it unless you feel
it is safe for all concerned. If you are not confident,
leave the animal alone and seek assistance.
Part D: How to do more of it D47
Prepare a box suitable for transport before capturing
the animal. This could be a cardboard box with
punched air holes and lined with newspaper, old
towels or a blanket.
A gentle confident approach towards the animal is
best. Most animals can be captured by throwing an
old towel or blanket over them. Wrap the animal
securely in the towel (a bird’s wings should be folded
close to the body) or place marsupials in a clean
hessian sack or pillowslip and tie up the end. Echidnas
are best transported in a clean, plastic rubbish bin.
Place the animal in the prepared box and keep it in a
quiet, dark, draught-free environment until you can
get professional advice or assistance. DO NOT attempt
to feed the animal.
Whales and dolphins are known to strand on
Tasmanian beaches. Strandings can be of a single
animal (usually the case for dolphins and baleen
whales) or a mass stranding of a large pod (often longfinned pilot whales or sperm whales).
It is not clearly understood why whales strand but
much has been learnt about helping stranded whales.
Mass strandings require a coordinated approach
and teams of experts. The animals must be released
together, if they are released individually they will
often restrand.
If you come across a stranding notify the Whale
Hotline immediately. Provide details of the exact
location, the number of animals, their size, their
condition, their species (if you can) and any other
useful information.
Wildlife Emergency
Contacts
Always put your own safety first. Be
cautious of sudden movements of the tail
or fins.
WILDLIFE HOTLINE
6233 6556 (24 hrs)
WHALE HOTLINE
0427 WHALES (0427 942 537)
This is a 24 hr monitored service for calls
of all marine mammal sightings and
strandings.
RSPCA
6244 3033 or 1300 139 947
Helping whales is extremely dangerous. One of the
greatest risks is finding yourself pinned by a whale
that has been rolled in the surf, or being knocked out
by a tail fluke or fin, so never assist whales that are
partially submerged without the presence of wildlife
authorities.
BONORONG WILDLIFE HOTLINE
(southern areas): 6268 1184 (24 hrs)
Do not cover the blowhole or allow
water to go down the blowhole.
Whales
Whales and dolphins are protected under the national
and state legislation (see section 20.1) and further
protection is provided by the Whales Protection
Act 1988. Please report any whale or other unusual
mammal sightings to the local PWS office or the
Wildlife or Whale Hotline.
D48
Whales on the beach will overheat quickly. Before
authorities arrive you can attempt to keep them cool.
Carefully dig holes for the flippers so they are hanging
free. Allow holes to fill with water to assist with
cooling. The large surface areas of the flippers are
important for regulating temperature. Cover the body
with wet towels or seaweed and keep wetting the
animal down.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Seals
All seals are wholly protected and the Australian and
New Zealand fur seals are threatened species.
Seals regularly come ashore (haul out) for a number of
reasons and are not necessarily injured. They may just
be resting. Keep a safe distance, seals have a powerful
bite and can inflict painful injuries and carry a
number of diseases. They can whip their head around
surprisingly quickly.
Sick or injured seals sometimes haul out on beaches.
Seals are curious creatures and can end up with rope,
fishing net or packing straps wrapped around their
necks. These entanglements often lead to a slow
painful death as the animal grows and the debris
gradually strangles it.
If you come across a seal hauled out on the beach
keep people and dogs away and report it to the
Wildlife or Whales Hotline.
Injured or moulting penguins
If you find an injured penguin, contact the PWS or
wildlife management staff within DPIPWE. Remove
the danger if possible or guard it from danger. If you
must transport the penguin, wear gloves and handle
carefully as they can bite. Place in a cardboard box
and keep in a cool, secure, quiet place. Do not handle
or try to feed the penguin. Make sure it is not simply a
moulting penguin.
Wildcare Inc. coordinates a group of first
response whale rescue teams made up
of trained volunteers that can be called
on to assist in the event of a stranding.
Members of the team are contacted by
wildlife authorities in the event of
a stranding.
You can join Wildcare Inc. and
register your interest. You will receive
information about the next available
whale rescue course.
Stranded shearwaters
Short-tailed shearwaters are the most numerous birds
found washed up on beaches from February to May
each year, typically after a storm. At this time, chicks
have fledged and are getting ready to migrate but
cannot fly very well, so they end up on beaches and
roads.
They should be placed in a box (DO NOT attempt
to feed them) and released at night at a beach,
preferably from an elevated site, as they struggle
to take off from the ground. You can also contact
the nearest PWS office or field centre, or wildlife
management staff in DPIPWE.
It is easy to mistake a moulting penguin for a sick bird.
In late summer and autumn penguins come ashore
to moult. Usually these birds are standing alone in
a sheltered area and can look quite ‘scruffy’. They
may be outside their usual haunts because moulting
comes on so suddenly. Moulting is a short-term
intense process for penguins – the feathers literally fly
off the bird.
Penguins are typically plump at the start of moult,
with dull feathers sticking out from the body. They
often appear hunched and miserable. They may have
large patches of old feathers missing with clean new
feathers emerging.
A moulting penguin is best left alone. If it is threatened
by dogs or people contact the nearest PWS office or
DPIPWE Wildlife Hotline. If you must move the penguin
to safety, take care as they can bite.
Sometimes other species of sub-Antarctic penguins
come ashore in Tasmania to moult. Report all
sightings to DPIPWE staff on the Wildlife Hotline.
Part D: How to do more of it D49
Helping scientific research – reporting leg
bands and carcasses
Dead animals found on the coast such as birds,
whales, dolphins and seals, may be of scientific
interest. Contact the museum, PWS or DPIPWE.
The latter is interested in receiving details of
all animals found dead on beaches, including
albatrosses and other ocean birds, and any unusual
deaths of seabirds. Reports of sightings of animal
entanglements and animals with tags are welcome.
If you find a bird with a band, wing tag, or some
other marking, the Australian Bird and Bat Banding
Scheme (ABBBS) would like to hear about it. If the bird
is dead, ABBBS would like you, if possible, to take the
band off and send it to them with information about
the locality and the bird’s condition. Details about how
to do this and an online reporting form are available
from their website. See Part E: More information.
Sharing stories
Beachwatch
Cradle Coast NRM launched a Beachwatch
program in 2012 and 23 beaches in the Cradle
Coast area are currently monitored for marine
debris by Beachwatch volunteers with this
number set to expand in the future in the
hope to cover most of the beaches in northwest Tasmania. Volunteers include members
of Coastcare groups and other community
organisations such as Lions, Rotary, Girl Guides,
Surf clubs as well as schools.
Twice yearly clean-ups are coordinated by the
groups involved for their adopted beach site and
the rubbish is sorted and data collected and
sent into Cradle Coast NRM for collation. Data
can be viewed on the Cradle Coast NRM website.
The data is shared with the Tangaroa Blue
D50
Ocean Care Society who use the information to
trace materials to their source and campaign
for changes to manufacturing and packaging.
Data is also shared with Cleanup Australia and
the CSIRO.
Volunteers involved in the program also learn
about other issues such as shorebirds, weeds
and things they can do to get involved in
protecting coastal environments.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
21.Pests
and problems
21.1 Oil spills
21.2 Marine debris
21.3 Feral animals 21.4 Marine pests 21.5 Common marine pests to look for
Human induced problems, such as
marine debris and oil spills threaten our
coastal ecosystems. Feral animals and
marine pests pose a threat to wildlife.
Coastcare groups get a lot of satisfaction
from contributing to the solutions, from
picking up rubbish, to monitoring and
removing pests, there is a lot that can
be done.
It is very important to inform others
about these problems as education
and awareness are critical to
encouraging people to reduce their
impact on the coast.
21.1 Oil spills
Oiled animals
Treating oiled seabirds and wildlife is highly specialised
and requires training. If you discover oiled seabirds or
mammals contact the Wildlife Hotline.
There may be opportunities for volunteers to
participate in caring for oiled animals in the
unfortunate event of an oil spill, but training would be
provided first.
Information can be found in Rescue and rehabilitation
of oiled birds (Walraven, 2004) but training is also
required. Contact the Wildlife Hotline. See Chapter 20.
Report any oil spills to the
24 hour response number
1800 005 171.
21.2 Marine debris
Litter looks unsightly, can leach chemicals and
toxins into waterways and poses a hazard to people
recreating and living on the coast. Litter floating in
the ocean and coastal waterways is a major threat to
coastal wildlife.
Waste transported in the marine environment is
known as marine debris. It may be land-based waste
that has been blown or washed into the ocean or it
may have been dumped, discarded or lost from ships
and boats.
Oil spills in the coastal environment can range from
small levels of contamination from recreational boats
to large-scale spills from commercial operations.
All oil spills can impact on wildlife, fisheries, coastal
and marine habitats and human health. Commercial
and recreational resources in coastal communities are
also affected. In the case of large-scale events these
impacts can be widespread and long-term.
Managing oil spills requires a coordinated approach.
Procedures for combating oil spill pollution are
contained within the Tasmanian marine oil pollution
contingency (TASPLAN). Tasports oil spill contingency
plans are localised plans for specific ports where an
oil spill occurs within port boundaries.
Australian and New Zealand fur seals can become entangled in
lost fishing gear and packaging and suffer a slow painful death.
© Princess Melikoff Trust Marine Mammal Conservation Program
Part D: How to do more of it D51
In addition to land-based litter marine debris includes
lost fishing nets or other fishing equipment; packaging
(such as plastic straps); micro-plastics from preproduction pellets or plastic that is being broken
into smaller pieces; and even remnants of synthetic
textiles from our clothes washing entering our
waterways and oceans.
Marine debris can entangle and drown penguins,
seals and other marine animals. Many seabirds will
ingest plastics which will either poison them or lead
to starvation. Turtles mistake floating plastic bags for
jellyfish and ingest them. Whales have been found
with kilograms of rubbish in their stomachs. Floating
litter can even transport invasive species into new
areas. One piece of plastic can kill many times over
as it is released back into the environment time and
again, when each animal dies.
Rubbish collected on beach clean-up with school students.
Plastics do not breakdown back to their elemental
components they just degrade into smaller and
smaller pieces. These microscopic plastics (often
covered in toxins) can then be eaten by animals at the
bottom of the food chain.
The Australian Government has listed marine debris
as a ‘key threatening process’ in the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999 (EPBC Act) and a threat abatement plan was
generated in 2009.
One of the best things we can do for wildlife and our
coastal environment is dispose of our litter wisely and
to pick litter up from the beach.
Just because a cat is a pet and wearing a collar does not stop it
killing wildlife if it is allowed to roam.
Many Coastcare groups regularly collect litter from
their beaches and coastal areas. Groups also get
involved in Clean Up Australia Day events to help raise
awareness of the litter issue and involve their local
communities in a coastal clean-up. 16, 000 tonnes
of rubbish was collected in 2012 as part of Clean Up
Australia Day events.
21.3 Feral animals
Some groups are paid by their council to conduct
regular beach clean-ups.
Monitoring marine debris, such as plastic bottles,
washed up on the beach can contribute valuable data
to land managers and monitoring programs.
Monitoring programs seem to come and go but it is
always worthwhile checking what other organisations
and institutions are doing about monitoring and
collecting marine debris so that you can link in and
provide any data you collect to a broader program.
D52
Controlling feral animals is difficult and requires
expertise. Consult your land manager if feral animals
are a problem in your area.
Feral animals such as rabbits and roaming domestic
cats and dogs are major threats to wildlife in many
coastal areas. Monitor feral animals in sensitive
habitats and alert authorities to new problems.
Unusual pests such as ferrets and mainland tortoises
should be captured, if possible, and/or reported to
DPIPWE wildlife staff.
Rabbits
Rabbits compete with browsing marsupials for
grasses, and with shearwaters and penguins for
burrows. Rabbits eat the seedlings of native plants
and set off erosion and weed infestation by digging for
plant roots.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Although rabbits are a nuisance, control must only
be undertaken by authorities. It is dangerous to lay
poison, and although ferrets are good rabbit hunters,
they are a threat to wildlife if they escape.
Cats and dogs
Cats and dogs are responsible for the decline of many
native animal populations, especially small marsupials
and breeding seabirds like penguins.
Coastcare groups can help to raise awareness in
their local communities of the threats posed by
uncontrolled domestic cats and dogs. Feral cats will
mate with domestic cats so encourage owners to
neuter their cats. Roaming dogs can devastate bird
colonies and even well behaved dogs will destroy a
shorebird nest if they come across one on the beach.
In some areas feral cats are a significant problem. The
Tasmanian Cat Management Act 2009 and the Cat
Management Regulations 2012 allow for the humane
handling and control of unidentified, stray and feral
cats.
Intensive cat trapping has proved very successful
in saving the penguin colony at Bicheno in the past.
Trapping commenced before the bird breeding season
and traps were monitored every 24 hours and cats
dispatched to a vet for humane disposal.
Learn to recognize the traces of foxes so that you can report any
sightings immediate to the Fox Eradication Taskforce.
Sharing stories
Coastal leader driving change in feral
oyster management
Lindsay James is a dedicated advocate for feral
oyster management. Lindsay commenced work
to remove feral oysters from the coastlines of
the Tasman Peninsula in the 1990’s. Since this
time, Lindsay has collected records of locations
and amounts removed and demonstrated that
within defined areas it is possible to get rid
of and maintain oyster-free stretches of our
coastline. Over the years, Lindsay’s passion and
advocacy has garnered support from funding
bodies, oyster growers, volunteer providers
and marine researchers. Lindsay’s talks and
demonstrations have inspired other Coastcare
groups in southern Tasmania to remove feral
oysters from their shorelines and kept the issue
in the spotlight for over a decade.
Part D: How to do more of it D53
Foxes
Historical records show that foxes have been
introduced into Tasmania on multiple occasions since
1864.. Foxes are a most serious threat to nesting
penguins, shorebirds and small marsupials.
To give us the best chance of controlling foxes,
please report any signs of a fox to the Fox Eradication
Program by calling the FOX HOTLINE on 1300 369 688.
Foxes are the size of a small dog but are mainly
nocturnal. They range in colour from grey-black to
orange to very red, usually with a white tip on their tail.
Foxes can be detected by certain signs; for example,
if a fox eats a seagull, it leaves the wings. Foxes mark
a food source such as a penguin colony by dropping
a scat about 2 cm wide and twirled up at the end. If
you find a potential fox scat, put it in a clean paper
bag (without touching it directly) and phone the Fox
Taskforce who will do DNA testing.
Adult foxes have a similar footprint to small dogs. The
best way to tell them apart is the hard triangular ridge
on the ball of the fox foot.
21.4 Marine pests
Some fish, invertebrates and algae have been
introduced into Tasmanian waters either intentionally
for aquaculture, or accidentally from ships (ballast
water) or as a by-catch of aquaculture specimens.
Not all introduced species have a significant impact on
our marine life. However, many have the capacity to
displace or prey on native marine animals and plants.
These species are known as marine pests.
Significant marine pests in Tasmania include toxic
algae, wakame seaweed, the european green crab,
pacific oyster, new zealand screw shell and the
northern pacific seastar.
Learn how to identify marine pests and look-out for
new incursions of marine pests or species showing
an abnormal change in abundance. Report any
new sightings of marine pests (or suspect species)
to DPIPWE on 1300 368 550 or the MARINE PEST
HOTLINE on 0408 380 377.
Your group might like to organise a marine pest ‘cleanup day’ with the local community. Coastcarers cleared
hundreds of northern pacific seastars from Browns
Rivulet, Kingston before they could spread into the
sea.
To collect or trap noxious marine pests (such as the
northern pacific sea star) you need a special marine
pest permit from the Marine Resources Group in
DPIPWE. Never transport live specimens of marine
pests from one place to another.
Any marine pests caught in traps under permit should
be euthanised and their bodies sealed in plastic bags
and disposed of at a registered tip site. Keep in mind
that any leakage from this bag into a waterway could
spread microscopic eggs and larvae.
The University of Tasmania has an interactive website
Redmap, inviting the Tasmanian community to spot,
log and map marine species that are uncommon in
Tasmania, or along particular parts of our coast.
Foxes have the potential to kill large numbers of coastal animals if
they become commonplace in Tasmania. Image courtesy of Philip
Island Nature Park.
D54
Boats, diving and fishing equipment should be washed
thoroughly above high tide level before leaving an area
to minimise dispersal.
Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Can you tell the difference between feral oysters and native oysters? The native oyster is on the left.
Feral oysters
The introduced commercial pacific oyster has
colonised to shorelines along Tasmania’s north and
south-east coasts. Their sharp-edged shells are a
nuisance and sometimes a hazard to beachgoers.
Some Coastcare groups are interested in ongoing
removal of feral pacific oysters from their shorelines. It
is possible to eliminate the oyster from local areas but
it requires ongoing monitoring and follow-up as new
larvae are brought in on the currents.
Teams of volunteers collect the feral oysters for
disposal or smash the shells on the rocks with tools.
Permits are not required but permission from the land
manager is essential. This will most likely be Crown
Land Services.
Feral oysters should not be eaten. Keep in mind that
disposal can be expensive. Smashing the shells might
be preferable but care must be taken to ensure that
no sharp edges are left on the rocks.
Due to the labour-intensive work and the need to
complete the activities quickly during a low tide,
groups often enlist the help of a team of additional
volunteers such as a Conservation Volunteers
Australia team.
SCAT has produced an information sheet for
groups interested in removing feral oysters,
Reclaiming the coast from the pacific oyster: A
guide to controlling pacific oysters in your coastal
area.
21.5 Common marine
pests to look for
Knowing how to identify marine pests can help
to prevent their spread in Tasmanian waters.
Photos and information are available online at
the National Introduced Marine Pest Information
System (NIMPIS). They include descriptions of
pests and similar native species that might be
confused with pests.
Be aware that some pest species
look similar to native species. Be sure to
identify correctly.
Personal protective equipment,
including heavy duty gloves, safety
glasses, and sturdy footwear should
always be worn when using tools to
smash or remove oysters.
Part D: How to do more of it D55
and in crevices on sheltered rock, mud and sand, at
and just below low tide. It is an active predator and
may present a threat to a number of native species.
It differs from native crabs in having five well-defined
spines on both sides of the upper carapace, starting at
the eye.
European green crab
(Carcinus maenas) sketch
This grey-green crab has a carapace (shell) up to 70
mm wide, with three spines between the eyes and
four notches along each side. It is found under stones
It is important to monitor the coastline and to report
any new localities of this crab, as it has spread from
the north of the state down the east coast as far
as Blackman Bay near Marion Bay. So far it has not
invaded the south-east of Tasmania, but all care
should be taken with transferring equipment and
water to southern areas.
Piecrust crab
(Cancer novaezelandia) sketch
This orange-brown crab with large claws has an
oval carapace up to 90 mm wide with indentations
around the margin that resemble marks in a piecrust.
It may have been accidentally introduced from New
Zealand and can be found throughout the south-east
of Tasmania to Eaglehawk Neck. It has also been
recorded at Port Davey and Devonport.
New Zealand or rosy screw shell
(Maoricolpus roseus) sketch
These long, pointed screw shells are a reddish-brown
colour when alive, but quickly wear away to a purplish
colour when dead. The smaller native screw shell
(Gazameda gunnii) is becoming rare. Its colour is
off-white to light brown and it is smaller (up to 56
mm rather than 90 cm). The massive numbers of the
introduced screw shell are a serious threat to native
sand-living species through competition for food and
space.
Accidentally introduced from New Zealand, they have
spread at an alarming pace throughout the south-east
and east coasts of Tasmania. They have crossed Bass
Strait and can now be found as far north as Sydney
Harbour.
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART D How to do more of it
Japanese seaweed, wakame (Undaria
pinnatifida) sketch
This edible seaweed has a single green-brown frond
up to 1 m long with a distinctive ruffle at the base
of its stem. The stem extends into the blade as a
broad midrib. It occurs around the south-east coast
including the entrance to the Derwent River Estuary,
Fortescue Bay on the Tasman Peninsula, and the
Mercury Passage and Georges Bay, both on the east
coast.
New Zealand seastar
(Patiriella regularis) sketch
This is a small greenish-brown, five-armed seastar up
to 7 cm across that was accidentally introduced from
New Zealand. It occurs in huge numbers in sheltered
waters and competes for food and space with native
small seastars with the threatened live-bearing seastar
(which are greener or green-blue and less than 3 cm
wide).
It occurs extensively around the south-east of
Tasmania, but does not seem to have spread further.
Part D: How to do more of it D57
Northern pacific seastar (Asterias
amurensis) sketch
The tips of this seastar’s five arms are pointed and turn
upwards when alive. The body is usually yellow-orange
often blotched with purple, especially near the ends
of the arms. The average size is 20 cm. In summer they
move down to deeper water so are not as notable as
in winter.
Take care not to mistake this pest for the native elevenarmed seastar, with arms that lack up-turned tips.
This pest occurs in huge numbers in the Derwent River
estuary, as well as in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel,
Huon River Estuary, Frederick Henry Bay, Norfolk
Bay, and the Mercury Passage (in scallop spat bags).
They have been sighted on the north-east coast of
Tasmania. The latest estimates of these seastars in
Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, stand at 150 million.
Do not break off arms as they can regenerate into
new seastars.
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PART D How to do more of it
Notes
Part D: How to do more of it D59
Notes
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Coastcare Handbook of Tasmania : Communities caring for the coast
PART C How to do it