Ngaro Sea Trail officially opened
On 2 June 2010, the Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail Great Walk was officially opened with a celebration at Whitehaven Beach. Guests were treated to exquisite weather whilst representatives of Traditional Owners began the launch with a Smoking Ceremony, followed by the unveiling of interpretation displays, and two short walks to experience the Sea Trail. QPWS have begun distributing the new
Whitsunday national park islands visitor guide, which incorporates all of the Ngaro Sea Trail information for tourists.Whales spotted in the Whitsundays
Once again, whales have begun their annual breeding migration north, and here in the Whitsundays we are lucky enough to witness these spectacular creatures throughout their journey. To ensure the safe passage of the whales in our waters, all vessels must adhere to whale watching regulations including watching distances. For further information, see:
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/watching_wildlife/whale_watching.html
Mackay Highlands Great Walk now open
The damage caused by Cyclone Ului was quite extensive in the Mackay Highlands Great Walk, and Rangers have been working for some time to ensure the Great Walk is safe and accessible for tourists to traverse. Rangers are pleased to announce that the Great Walk is now open for use again - enjoy!
Update on Coral Beach track
To conduct routine track repairs and maintenance, the Coral Beach track and car park was closed in early June. This work is on schedule and both the track and the car park are due to reopen on 20 July 2010.
Butt Bins in place
To reduce the unsightly amount of cigarette butts affecting Tongue Point,
Butt Bins were installed at both ends of the Hill Inlet track. Data on the effectiveness of these bins will be quantified next month.The war on rubber vine continues
Rangers are continuing their spraying program to halt the spread of rubber vine
Cryptostegia grandiflora on Gloucester Island, with teams targeting areas of outbreaks.Planned burn program
QPWS will be conducting hazard-reduction burning operations on the Whitsunday national park islands between July and October 2010. These burns are being undertaken for asset protection, weed control and conservation purposes. Some areas may be affected by smoke during these burns. For further information, see:
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/managing_parks_and_forests/fire_management.html
Responsible Park Practices:
Bird watchingQueensland has more than 600 species of birds – about 80 percent of all bird species found in Australia. Here are some hints for better bird watching in parks and forests.
• Plan your bird walk for early in the morning or late afternoon when they are usually most active.
• Never feed birds– let them find their own food.
• Keep noise to a minimum; what seems quiet when alone can be loud when in a group and may disturb other park visitors and wildlife.
Distributed to http://whitsundaywhatson.blogspot.com/
Cap'n Dan Van Blarcom
Secretary, Whitsunday Local Marine Advisory Committee
4946 4131
0407676952
Email: ahoy@reefweb.info
Snail mail: PO Box 155,
Airlie Beach, Qld. 4802
