Cyclone Alfred: Turtle team's 10-day mission

Bribie Island National Park Turtle Conservation team has left the beach after spending 10 days – and almost 200 hours – preparing for Cyclone Alfred.

The team is managing more than 70 turtle nests laid this season along 17kms of national park north of Welsby Lagoon on Bribie’s surfside.

Cyclone planning started on February 23 when 30 nests had emerged but more than 40 were still in the dunes at “various stages of incubation”.

The team’s challenges have been revealed in a detailed post on the BIEPA (Bribie Island environment Protection Association) Facebook page.

They included seas rising to three metres, backed by a king tide and the erosion of Bribie Island’s dunes.

However, each nest was assessed and those at greatest risk moved. Sandbags were used to slow erosions around nests about the hatch.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPWS) closed the national parks access tracks and campsites on Monday.

The turtle team left that evening having moved 20 nests to higher areas. Many of the unmoved nests will have “run” since then.

BEIPA President Richard Ogden was quick to praise the “amazing volunteers”.

“The whole region owes a debt of gratitude to these amazing volunteers led by Darren Jew and Diane Oxenford who have worked tirelessly to maximise the chance of thousands of baby turtles surviving and making it to the ocean,” he said.

“The modern world presents huge obstacles for nature, and this human endeavour is really making a difference.”

Bribie Island National Park Turtle Conservation is part of the TurtleCare Sunshine Coast volunteer program, which is supported by BEIPA Turtle Awareness Project fundraising.

You can help the volunteer’s transport and logistical costs, through BIEPA. Visit https://chuffed.org/project/help-protect-bribies-turtles