Snap decision develops well
Care for Hedland and the Pilbara Ports Authority are set to officially launch a new camera designed to monitor sand erosion along Cemetery Beach at an April 16 ceremony.
Erected last November, the camera has already begun snapping daily shots of Cemetery Beach after the Ports Authority donated $60,000 to fund the installation and analysis of its data.
Care for Hedland co-ordinator Bridgette Poulton said the camera would help answer concerns sand erosion on Cemetery Beach was leaving less room for flatback turtles to nest.
"(Long-time residents) have said to us the eastern end of the beach used to be covered with sand and is now covered with rocks, which makes it difficult for the turtles to get in and out of the water," she said.
"(The flatback) eggs also need to be laid about 50cm underneath the surface … and if the sand erodes the eggs might be inundated with water and the hatchlings can drown before they are developed."
The project comes after the popular 2014 Saving the Turtles of Port Hedland documentary cited sand erosion as a major problem for nesting turtles.
These concerns then reached a national audience after ABC TV also featured the maker of the documentary Dof Dickinson on its Australian Story program.
Ms Poulton said the camera, which overlooked Cemetery Beach and the port from a 12m pole near the tourist rotunda, aimed to get to the bottom of the issue.
A Queensland-based company will remotely collect 12 months of data from the camera, which will be analysed alongside additional studies conducted by Care for Hedland.
Ms Poulton said the studies would determine whether sand erosion was a significant problem and how a program to replenish sand on the beach could be managed.
The public can also form their own opinions by logging into footage from the camera at either the Care for Hedland or Port Hedland Visitor Centre websites. Ms Poulton expected the camera to even assist turtle monitors.
