Bundaberg Regional Council is backing the future of marine turtle conservation by sponsoring the 7th Australian Marine Turtle Symposium on the Gold Coast this month.
The three-day symposium, being held from 19 to 21 October, will bring together more than 200 delegates from across Australia and the Pacific including researchers, Traditional Owners and Indigenous Rangers, government agencies, universities, environmental consultants, conservation groups and community organisations.
For Bundaberg Regional Council, the event is about more than turtles – it is an opportunity to bring valuable knowledge, new ideas and potential partnerships home to the region.
A Council Natural Areas officer will attend the symposium to hear about the latest research, conservation techniques and management approaches, with a particular focus on issues relevant to the Bundaberg coastline.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said the sponsorship was a practical investment in the region’s natural environment and future.
“Bundaberg is incredibly lucky to have turtles returning to our coastline year after year and with that privilege comes a responsibility to protect them,” she said.
“By supporting this symposium, Council is making sure we have a seat at the table with the people doing some of the most exciting marine turtle research and conservation work across Australia and the Pacific.
“We’re not just going along to listen, we’re looking at what we can learn, who we can work with and what ideas we can bring back to Bundaberg.”
The local coastline is home to the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland and supports the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific region.
Turtles are also a major drawcard for visitors, contributing to the region’s tourism appeal and local economy.
The symposium will provide an opportunity for Council to learn more about issues affecting the local turtle population, including turtle strandings and fatalities, as well as emerging technology and approaches to reducing the impacts of light pollution on nesting turtles and hatchlings.
Council will also be joined by local representatives from the Sea Turtle Alliance, Woongarra Coast Turtle Volunteers Inc, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s Mon Repos Turtle Centre and Conservation Park, as well as researchers and citizen scientists who regularly work in the region.
Natural Resources and Environment portfolio spokesperson Cr Gary Kirk said these connections could lead to practical opportunities for Bundaberg.
“This symposium gives us a chance to strengthen existing relationships, build new ones and explore opportunities for joint projects that could benefit our coastline and our community,” he said.
“We can bring that knowledge back to our region and look at how it might help us better manage our coastal public spaces, support conservation and encourage sustainable practices.”
Council’s sponsorship also supports the objectives of the Bundaberg Regional Council Corporate Plan 2025–2030, including promoting, protecting and enhancing the region’s natural environment for current and future generations.
Additionally, Bundaberg Regional Council was recently successful in its application to join the Queensland Marine Turtle Network as an affiliate member, further strengthening the region’s connection to marine turtle conservation efforts across the state.
The network will hold an in-person meeting on the final day of the symposium, alongside its regular online forums.
To find out more about turtle season in the Bundaberg Region click here.
