The BEACH Project Aims

With a combination of professional science, citizen science, and community education, the Biodiversity Education and Action for the Cooloola Habitats (BEACH) Project aims to support the conservation, the enhancement of the quality and biodiversity of the coastal catchments of the Cooloola Coast through community partnerships to monitor and improve water quality to protect and enhance biodiversity.

As part of the BEACH Project, the Cooloola Sediment Investigation will consist of 24 dives to collect underwater biodiversity and sediment data in the mouths of 8 urban and non-urban creeks that drain into Tin Can Inlet.

Urban creeks

• Snapper Creek (Snapper & Griffin), Carlo Creek, Teewah (aka Crab) Creek, Mullen Creek

Non-urban creeks

• Searys Creek, Cameron Creek, Carland Creek, Cooloola Creek

Turbidity in Creeks.

Conduct an underwater assessment at the mouth of creeks around Tin Can Inlet to investigate the up-stream sources of waterborne sediment causing seawater turbidity that has severely affected marine life population density resulting in a lack of biodiversity and low density of populations of marine creatures in the Tin Can Inlet as found in the GRC

funded research conducted by Cooloola Coastcare, the Cooloola Underwater Biodiversity Assessment (CUBA, 2016-7).

Moorings & Anchoring - Documenting Habitat Impacts and Proposing Mitigation Strategies

Engage an underwater cameraman and marine biologist to survey the impact of the mooring and anchor chains identified as an incidental finding in the Cooloola Underwater Biodiversity Assessment (CUBA 2016-7). Document the scope of this damage using underwater video and photography. Through community consultation with stakeholders and experts in mooring design and anchoring management practices identify solutions to address the problem drawing on effective practices in other jurisdictions.