What began as a peaceful fishing and camping getaway turned into a troubling encounter with environmental damage when Reuben Jacob uncovered a massive piece of plastic buried beneath the sand. Visiting a once-pristine stretch of beach north of Noosa, far from the usual crowds, Jacob initially noticed what seemed to be a small piece of clear plastic poking out from the sand. However, as he attempted to pick it up, he realized it was far more extensive than expected, concealed deep beneath the surface.
Determined not to leave it behind, Jacob began digging. What he eventually unearthed was an estimated 50 kilograms of sandy plastic that appeared to have been used as industrial wrapping, likely fallen from a ship and carried to shore by ocean currents. The weight, intensified by the sand trapped inside, made it difficult to remove intact. “It was heavy with the sand inside it, we couldn’t get the sand out without tearing it into two bundles,” he explained.
Unfortunately, the buried sheet of plastic was only part of the problem. All along the beach, large bottles, fishing lines, and countless tiny plastic fragments were strewn across the sand. Jacob collected what he could and loaded the debris into his 4WD, but there was simply too much to take away alone. Hoping to make a difference, he encouraged other drivers passing through Noosa North Shore beach, approximately 8 kilometers north of Teewah, to do their part by stopping to collect some of the rubbish.
Expressing his dismay, Jacob reflected on how much the beach has changed over the past two decades. “I’ve been going up this beach for 20 years, and it never used to be like that. It used to be pristine, but it’s not now,” he said. He attributed the problem partly to careless campers and partly to the increasing amount of marine debris washing ashore. He also noted the overflowing bins at the site, suggesting that more regular collection or even the employment of a dedicated cleanup crew could help address the issue.
Jacob’s story quickly gained traction online, resonating with many who expressed similar frustration over the environmental decline. Photos of the plastic he retrieved drew nearly 1,000 reactions, with one commenter writing, “It disgusts me seeing irresponsible people leaving rubbish on the beach, especially fishing tackle and wires.” Another added, “Such a precious area. I have camped my whole life and was always taught to leave nothing behind except footprints.”
While many directed their calls for action to the Noosa Shire Council, the area of the beach affected by the waste is managed by Queensland’s state government. In a statement to Yahoo News, Queensland’s Department of Environment, Tourism and Sport (DETSI) acknowledged that the increase in debris was “disappointing.” It also noted that the problem had worsened since Cyclone Alfred made landfall in March, stirring up and depositing more marine waste along the coast.
The department reported that it has already undertaken several major cleanup operations in the region and plans to continue addressing the situation. Officials urged the public to dispose of their rubbish responsibly or take it home to protect Queensland’s beaches for everyone to enjoy.
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