Resounding support for petition to close Cable Beach to vehicles permanently to protect turtles

A Traditional Owners corporation has started a petition to permanently close Cable Beach to vehicles after Broome Shire Council opted to extend the beach’s vehicle ramp closure to protect turtles just last week. The petition posted to Change.org had gathered more than 5000 signatures in the first 24 hours of its launch on August 13, with the latest numbers nearing 7500 signatures. Djukun Nation chief executive and lead petitioner Jaala Ozies said the response to the petition had been “overwhelming”. “Since we started it in August, we’ve received an incredible amount of national support,” she said. “The outpouring of signatures and messages shows that there’s a strong desire to preserve our cultural heritage and protect the sacred ecosystems on Djukun Country.” She said the shire’s temporary closure during nesting season was simply “not enough” to protect the sacred habitat. “The continued presence of vehicles in these areas causes damage to the land, disrupts turtle habitats, and risks long-term environmental harm,” she said. “For the Djukun people, protecting Billingooroo (Cable Beach) is not only about preserving a sacred cultural site but also ensuring the survival of native wildlife and maintaining the integrity of Djukun Country for future generations. “Extending the vehicle ramp closure temporarily is not enough to protect the ecosystem, the beach, and the turtles. While it may offer short-term relief, the ongoing threat remains as long as vehicles are allowed to access the beach. “To truly protect the land and wildlife, there should be a permanent closure on all beaches. This would provide long-term conservation for the environment and ensure the safety of sacred sites on Djukun Country.” Ms Ozies said she hoped to see vehicle access banned at Gantheaume Beach as well. “Protecting all the beaches on Djukun Country is essential to preserving the natural environment and the cultural heritage of the Djukun people,” she said. However data from the Cable Beach Community Turtle Monitoring data 2017 to 2023 suggests there are minimal turtle hatchlings through the months of March to September each year. Earliest hatched nests have been recorded in the first week of December with one nest in 2019 recorded on the 13 November, suggesting some turtles nest successfully on Cable Beach within the monitoring area as early as the first week of October. Tracks have also been opportunistically sighted in September. In 2023, the last recorded successful nest was on December 19 2023 with hatching occurring around February 7. The figures suggest there is a peak period of nesting activity in mid-November to early December with minimal nesting activity during most of January and February.