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1 December 2004
A new Coastcare campaign fronted by Iva Davies
is calling on people in the Surf Coast area to think about
their actions when they hit the coast this summer and remember
that if we want to continue to enjoy the coast in the future,
we must be careful not to destroy it now.
"Don't Destroy What You Came to Enjoy!"
says Coastcare Ambassador Iva, as more and more Australians
choose to exit the fast lane and make that idyllic coastal
getaway into a permanent home.
In recent years there has been a geographical
shift in Australia's population toward regional coastal living,
a trend that has been termed the "Sea Change" phenomenon.
This places our fragile coastal ecosystem under increasing
threat and spells trouble for the long-term balance of nature.
Coastcare is calling for sustainable management of coastal
development and for everyone to be aware of the impact they
are having, no matter whether they live on the coast or just
holiday there.
Moreover, as summer hots up and the school holidays
arrive a tremendous burden will be placed on our beaches,
so it's imperative everyone does their bit and join the 60,000
volunteers, in 2000 groups across Australia, who are working
to protect and repair Australia's greatest asset - our 37,000
km of magnificent coastline.
Iva Davies, Australian rock music icon and former
Icehouse front man, is eager to ensure that our great southern
land can be enjoyed by our children and our children's children.
"I've travelled the world and realise how fortunate we
are in Australia. While it's inevitable that people will flock
to the coast, we don't want people to destroy what they came
to enjoy," he said.
"I've lived on the coast all my life and
I'm a keen surfer, so you could say I have a vested interest
in coastal issues, but so do all Australians. We've all seen
our beaches engulfed in shadows from high-rise buildings,
but there are also issues like pollution as a result of rubbish
left on the sand and the importance of using proper access
points to protect the natural environment and the creatures
that live there.
"What we do today affects tomorrow and
in some ways we're loving the coast to death," said Iva.
"If we don't treat our beaches and waterways with respect,
they simply won't be around for our grandkids to enjoy the
same way we have. The first thing we can do is simply be aware.
The second is join a Coastcare group and help out with the
incredible work these volunteers are doing."
Australian Minister for the Environment and
Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell said with the vast majority
of Australia's population, around 85 per cent, living on the
coast, coastal values and resources are vital to the Australian
way of life and must be protected.
"What is disturbing about the number of
people living on the coast is that nearly a quarter live in
non-metropolitan, or regional, coastal areas, and that the
rate of population growth in these regional areas is 50 per
cent higher than the national average," he said.
"Any coastal ecosystem is particularly
sensitive to introduced change and is largely ill-equipped
to cope with such unprecedented growth. The Australian Government
recognises that pressures on our coasts are increasing and
we are committed to addressing the threats to these fragile
ecosystems.
"Thanks to $148.5 million in funding from
the Australian Government's $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust,
Coastcare facilitators, volunteers and community groups have
made a huge difference to the Australian coastal environment.
Volunteers have built over 200 kilometres of fencing and 80
kilometres of paths to protect sensitive dune and headland
vegetation, cleared 2000 hectares of weeds and planted more
than 600,000 native plants.
"As part of our regional approach to tackling
environmental issues, the Australian Government is working
in partnership with state, territory and local governments,
farmers, conservation groups, tertiary institutions and community
groups to protect our marine resources."
Ironically, as city-slickers flock to a sleepy
seaside town seeking a tranquil oasis, they often transform
this town into the very essence of what they are trying to
escape, characterised by constant development, traffic congestion
and crowded beaches.
Coastcare spokesman Brian Scarsbrick said whatever
the reasons so many Australians are choosing to relocate,
roads, water mains, apartment buildings, factories and piers
all need to built to accommodate this influx and all serve
to upset the biodiversity of coastal regions, degrade the
land and water quality and generally interrupt natural ecological
processes.
"Quite simply, this is unsustainable and
we need to take a good look at ourselves," he said.
"This is where Coastcare fits in and we're
as much about prevention as cure. There are many thousands
of Australians giving up their time to revegetate foreshores,
construct eco-friendly accesses and remove harmful debris.
It's great to have passionate Australians like Iva Davies
promoting community awareness and providing our coastcarers
with the recognition they deserve."
On a broad scale, urgent action is needed to
identify and implement coordinated strategies to better manage
Sea Change.
Thankfully, over 2000 Coastcare groups all around
the country are already working to reverse the effects of
Sea Change by protecting and repairing Australia's beaches,
harbours, bays and estuaries. These eco-warriors are working
tirelessly and selflessly to ensure the sustainable future
of Australia's coast. Why not get in and lend a hand - your
grandkids will thank you for it!
Coastcare is a partnership between Commonwealth,
State and local governments and is a theme of the Australian
Government's Natural Heritage Trust. Coastcare Week 2004 is
December 1 - 7.
To get involved with Coastcare call 1800 151
105 or simply get down to your local and beach and keep an
eye out for local information.
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