Sad New Year's Day sight at Aussie tourist hotspot highlights widespread 'killer'
Community advocates are warning that litter has harmful effects on the island's famous wildlife.
A photo of the aftermath of a New Year's Eve party at one of Australia's pristine tourist islands has sparked anger and highlighted an ongoing battle across the country.
Litter including discarded party poppers and blowers were spotted strewn across the grass at Nelly Bay on Queensland's Magnetic Island on New Year's Day which is renowned for its incredible wildlife and picturesque beaches.
The island's community development association issued a warning that this exact scenario is causing local turtles to die. "Magnetic Island has endangered turtles that nest on our beaches. This rubbish kills them," the group told Yahoo News Australia.
Litter major threat to turtles as they reach Aussie shores
It's well known that native Flat Back turtles and Green Sea Turtles make their way to the island between October and February every year during nesting season. Pollution is one of the biggest threats to both species.
The Magnetic Island Community Development Association (MICDA) told Yahoo that the local turtle hospital has no choice but to euthanise turtles who have "starved to death" from ingesting marine debris like party poppers and glue sticks used to celebrate New Year's Eve.
"One moment of pleasure from a piece of plastic" it warned can cause the endangered species to get seriously sick, or die.
Nelly Bay is the main hub of services for residents and tourists at Magnetic Island. Anyone who spots NYE rubbish is asked to collect it. "Grab a bag & pick them up if you can please," MICDA pleaded.
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Littering at parks, campsites and beaches attracts $500 fines
Aussies around the country are being condemned for not taking their rubbish with them this festive season.
Local resident Adin Monks was walking his dog around Lilydale Lake, a popular outdoor area in eastern Melbourne, on Monday morning when he spotted a "disgraceful" amount of rubbish left in a communal BBQ area.
Campsites and beaches also face this issue, with some Aussies pushing for tougher penalties for those caught littering. On Boxing Day, a huge waste collection effort commenced after thousands of beachgoers partied at Sydney's Bronte beach and discarded their rubbish on the sand and grass.
Fines are associated with littering in every state and territory in Australia, with litterers facing $500 in NSW and $322 in Queensland. However, it is difficult to catch those responsible, meaning there are seldom repercussions unless the offence is recorded or reported.
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