Oil and Water Don't Mix
(16 March 2009)

We have been very fortunate not to have suffered a similar fate so far. The prevailing winds and tidal currents have kept the oil from draping our beaches in its deadly blanket.
The MV Pacific Adventurer lost 31 containers of ammonium nitrate overboard in the heavy conditions during Cyclone Hamish, and one of the falling containers pierced the oil tank spilling up to 30 tonnes of oil into Moreton Bay that created an oil slick in its wake over ten kilometers long.
The coastline was inevitably affected from the Sunshine Coast to Moreton Island.
Marine experts have suggested that the main threats posed by the ammonium nitrate will include increased algal blooms and burns and death to both fish and seagrass as well as physical damage to the ocean floor from the containers themselves.
Environment groups have called for increased funding to the EPA and Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service for park protection and emergency response capacity and have praised the quick multi agency response in this case.
The clean up operation is in progress and the damage is being assessed. The Premier Anna Bligh has said that the Captain of the vessel will be held responsible and will be fined as a result of the spill.

<< Back

The Whales Way is Back!
Like a leviathan surfacing from the deep, Point Lookout's island style restaurant and cocktail bar has returned to much acclaim retaining it's original ambience and charm and of course that unsurpassed 180 degree view across the Coral Sea. more...
Easter Holidays on North Stradbroke Island 2011
Happy Easter to all our visitors and residents! The water taxis and ferries are starting to fill up and the Island awaits another influx of visitors to celebrate Easter with friends and family. more...
Sharks Feed on Bait Fish off the Point Lookout Headland
Schools of bait fish were spotted off Main Beach and the Headland today and they attracted plenty of attention from the land and the sea. Sharks of all sizes and types could be seen cutting a swathe through the inky black schools along with larger fish and mackerel. Birds dived into the mix creating a spectacle of nature for all those there to witness it. more...
Spend 'Christmas by Starlight' this year
Looking for a great activity for the whole family? Look no further than Council's annual Christmas by Starlight on Saturday 11 December. With Jessica Mauboy booked as the headline act for the concert, this year's event is set to be bigger, better and brighter than ever before. more...
Nature gives and takes away on Main Beach at Point Lookout
In a week of mixed blessings on North Stradbroke Island, nature has taken life of one species and given a home to another. more...

 

 

 

 

Items in Cart:  0 Total Price: $0.00 edit cart  checkout