Australia’s magnificent wilderness areas are understandably a magnet for grey nomads and other nature-loving travellers … but they also attract a significant number of idiots.
Saratoga Island Nature Reserve, a small sandy spit surrounded by mangroves in Brisbane Water on the NSW Central Coast, is the latest spot to be scarred by senseless acts of vandalism.
There will be increased patrols and surveillance there after more than 50 native swamp-oak trees were cut down on the island, which is close to Woy Woy across the water.
Saratoga Island Nature Reserve is also being damaged by illegal bonfires and dumped rubbish, including shopping trolleys, unauthorised camping and broken glass.
More than 50 native swamp-oak trees were cut down on the island. PIC: NSW Government
Authorities are investigating the incidents, with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) working closely with the Brisbane Waters Maritime Police and NSW Maritime Boating Safety Officers to address the issue and help stop further vandalism.
Saratoga Island Nature Reserve is a popular spot for boaters and fishers with shallow shores and expansive water views.
NPWS Acting Area Manger, Andrew Bayley, said dedicated NPWS staff worked hard to preserve the areas as part of its conservation efforts.
“It is extremely disappointing to see vandalism, particularly the loss of 50 native swamp-oak trees,” he said. “We have zero tolerance when it comes to the wilful destruction of our nature reserves that play a critical role in safeguarding important vegetation and threatened species.”
The NPWS says nature reserves like Saratoga Island are important to protect threatened species and vegetation communities to ensure they survive into the future. It says the nature reserve safeguards endangered swamp-oak floodplain forests and coastal saltmarsh, seagrass beds and intertidal flats, and is used by threatened birds including the white-bellied sea eagle, pied oystercatcher and crested tern.
“Damaging vegetation, lighting fires or dumping of rubbish in a national park or nature reserve is an offence and heavy fines can apply to offenders,” it said.
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This has obviously been done by locals.
What do you base your observations on ?
If no one lives on the island it wouldn’t be for a clearer view and as the timber would have been green, it would have not burnt in a campfire.
This senseless destruction of native vegetation is generally carried out by people who do not intend to return to the area in future and have come some distance. I’ve personally seen young persons chopping down green saplings whilst older of the group were oblivious to their actions. I reported this to Parks Victoria at the time, and later confirmed that in their experience this is a fact in many cases. Yet again, this responsible agency does not have the resources to cover huge areas.
We camped a night on edge of a large dam near Barraba. There were shelters, raised BBQs and newly planted natives. In late afternoon 3 lads turned up. That started an hours long drinking and mayhem. They drove round and round deliberately running over plants and scarring the soft ground. Then they proceeded to drag over the BBQs and shelters with ropes attached to vehicle. When they eventually slept, we got the number plate and went into Barraba. No police station, just a call box. Not remotely interested when I described the vandalism. Wasn’t until I said they had been drinking that any notice was taken. If cops don’t care it’s not surprising there’s so much vandalism.