Building has begun this week on a University of the Sunshine Coast-led research and rehabilitation centre dedicated to saving sick and injured marine turtles.
UniSC Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett, said the new centre at Hervey Bay would be called the ‘UniSC Milbi Centre – Sea Turtle Research and Rehabilitation’.
“Milbi is the Butchulla word for sea turtle and the Dayman Park site on the Hervey Bay foreshore holds great cultural significance for the Butchulla people and their deep connection with the milbi and other sea and land creatures,” Professor Bartlett said.
“As key partners in our sea turtle rehabilitation and research efforts, their knowledge, cultural advice, protocols and lores will inform the goals and operations of this centre.”
Professor Bartlett inspected the site on Tuesday with Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm, State Member for Hervey Bay David Lee, Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour and project partners.
The Australian Government has provided $250,000 funding for the works under the Hinkler Regional Deal with the Queensland Government allocating $1.17 million.
“It is wonderful that all levels of government – federal, state and local – recognise and support the need for timely action to protect our threatened and endangered sea turtles,” she said.
“The funding we have received so far has been instrumental in supporting UniSC and its partners – Turtles in Trouble Rescue and the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation – to transform a disused scout hall into a dedicated rehabilitation and research centre.”
Expected to be completed mid-year, the facility will include a specialist turtle life support system and indoor and outdoor tanks to allow sick and injuried turtles to be cared for and stabilised locally before being released back into the ocean.
Professor Bartlett said it was fitting that work began this week just as Tropical Cyclone Alfred threatened to impact the South East Queensland coastline.
“The potential impacts from severe weather events reinforce why this centre is so important," she said.
“Since 2022, we’ve had an unprecedented increase in turtle strandings and deaths, with volunteers rescuing more than 1400 turtles and about 360 needing to be transported hundreds of kilometres for specialist care at the nearest rehabilitation facility.
“There has also been an increase in sick and diseased turtles, with many suffering from a new soft-shell syndrome. UniSC’s researchers are working to determine the cause of this mystery disease and ways to protect our turtles from its devastating impacts.
“The centre will become a hub for vital research to better understand the causes of strandings and deaths and investigate ways to mitigate threats to our sea turtles and other marine life from disease and the impacts of a changing climate.
“This will have both local and global impact. Six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles are found here, and all are ecologically and genetically linked to other parts of Australia and the wider Pacific region.”
Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation General Manager Veronica Bird said the centre was a fantastic initiative and BNTAC welcomed the opportunity to work collaboratively with UniSC and Turtles in Trouble Rescue.
“Milbi are of enduring cultural and spiritual significance to the Butchulla People, and other Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and have been for tens of thousands of years."
“We are working together on sea country to ensure sea turtle populations are healthy and sustained into the future,” she said.
“One of the most important aspects of having this research and rehabilitation centre on country is that we can combine science with traditional knowledge, and that will provide a wonderful way forward to protect our turtles and other marine life.”
The Hinkler Regional Deal for the Hervey Bay-Bundaberg region is an Australian Government initiative, in partnership with the Fraser Coast Regional Council and the Bundaberg Regional Council, that seeks to build on the area’s strengths to provide economic growth and long-term employment.
Professor Bartlett said ongoing funding support from governments, organisations and the community would be vital for the successful operation of the centre.
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