Turtle season Cable Beach vehicle ramp shutdown to be extended permanently

The closure of Cable Beach for turtle hatching season is set to extend to February permanently after it was found that closures significantly reduced the danger to turtle nests and hatchlings. In 2022, council voted to shut turtle nesting areas along Cable Beach to vehicles based on recommendations from the Yawuru Park Council. In 2023 a temporary yearly closure was not necessary as weather had closed the vehicle access ramp at Cable Beach. But now council is set to extend the closure between October to February permanently based on recommendations from Yawuru Park Council and resounding community support. Of the 749 community submissions council received on the proposed closure in 2022, a resounding 709 were in support while just 35 were in opposition. The council will now advertise the proposed closure for public submission for a period of 28 days with submissions to be presented to Council at the September meeting. Data from the Cable Beach Community Turtle Monitoring Program between 2017 and 2023 shows 20 per cent of turtle nests hatch in February with roughly 14 nests estimated to have hatched in February 2024. It also shows the closure maximises the chances of hatchling survival by removing the impact of tyre ruts, resulting in a decreased risk of predation, exhaustion and dehydration. There is a 28-day public feedback before the ultimate decision is made.