Abandoned watercraft and illegal dumping at Seventeen Seventy foreshore
Following a request from Maritime Safety Queensland to assist with clean-up of Seventeen Seventy Round Hill Creek Foreshore as part of their “War on Wrecks” project,
and a further complaint about safety issues caused by small watercraft being left on beach areas, Council officers attended Seventeen Seventy earlier this week and observed illegally dumped items and apparently abandoned watercraft on the beach, dunes and in mangroves.
These items can constitute a risk to both the environment and community health and safety.
The accompanying photographs depict several items that have been there for an extended period and are in disrepair.
Council officers placed notices on the items noting they appeared abandoned and requesting their removal.
An area designated by Council can now be used as a temporary location to store kayaks or other small nonmotorized vessels.
As the area is a coastal foreshore, at risk of erosion, this is the most suitable location for short term storage.
Items that have not been claimed or have not been moved to the area designated by Council will be removed by Council within 14 days from the date listed on the notice.
We understand that the Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy community has an important cultural connection to the water and the foreshores, and we are committed to working with community members to ensure this can continue and thrive, but in a manner that is not detrimental to the environment and does not pose a safety risk to other beach users.
Gladstone Regional Council aims to have further communications to residents around this issue and is considering alternatives in respect to possible storage of personal watercraft.
If anyone has received a notice and has claims that their item is not abandoned, please contact Council on 4970 0700 to discuss.
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