Council takes on BeachCare
TAJ Lonnie is fuming his favourite weekend beach cleanup event is up in the air.
The Elanora State Primary School pupil, 11, can’t understand why the City of Gold Coast withdrew funding for the Coastal Community Engagement Program and wants to start an “in-house program” without Griffith University involvement.
“I am really sad about the sudden decision to shut down BeachCare events” Taj said. “I have proudly volunteered at many events at Tallebudgera.
“It’s not just a program that picks up litter, helps restore the dunes and mitigates erosion, it’s a program that unites people of all ages and backgrounds. I don’t want it to go anywhere.”
The Bulletin understands the partnership between the Griffith University’s Centre for Coastal Management and the City of Gold Coast will cease from next month.
Since its inception 18 years ago, more than 10,000 people have volunteered with the program. Last year BeachCare colDivision lected around 272kg of litter from the dunes, removed 115kg of weeds, and planted 1500 native plants, dune plants and cuttings with the help of 1000 volunteers.
Griffith University Coastal Community Engagement Program posted on Facebook that without council support it won’t be able to fund BeachCare events at their 10 sites across the Coast.
But CoastEd, their environmental education program, will continue to provide services to the community and schools.
7 councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden said: “The City of Gold Coast will be bringing the program in-house and are going to expand on the program to incorporate other universities, schools and community groups”.
Former South East Queensland Catchments partnership manager Sarah Castle said during her time with the Coastal Community Engagement Program she noticed it “achieved great results and required little funding”.
“From my experience when councils solely run programs, communities lose ownership,” she said.
“The BeachCare staff have told the community they have lost their jobs, so community trust has been broken.
“It was also a very quick and out of the blue decision. I don’t understand council’s motive.”
A council spokeswoman said: “The City would continue to provide an educational beach program. We will continue to involve the community in contributing to beach management through activities that include dune restoration and weed removal.”