Popular camp spot gets a makeover

The Starcke boat ramp area has been the target of an intensive clean-up after years of visitor over-use, weed infestation and damage from feral cattle.

Juunjuwarra Traditional Owners have been working to protect the littoral rainforest areas and beach following surveys conducted at the site late last year.   

Cape York NRM provided training for the Juunjuwara Rangers in littoral rainforest research, and teams then conducted surveys to establish the health of the coastal vegetation. The results found some former littoral rainforest stands were in low condition and the area was overrun with rubbish, weeds and feral animal damage. 

“Littoral Rainforest is an important part of beach sustainability,” Cape York NRM Biodiversity Project Officer Dr James Dobson said.

“A littoral rainforest provides a buffer between the ocean and the land and helps prevent coastal erosion and wind damage, and provides habitat for more than 70 threatened plants and animals.” 

The littoral rainforest and coastal vine thickets of eastern Australia are listed as critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 

“If we want to maintain the beach and coastal area into the future, steps have to be taken to prevent further deterioration,” James said. 

The Juunjuwarra Rangers are keen to get their country returned to its former glory. It takes in the Starcke River catchment in north-eastern Cape York and is home to mountains and remote rainforests, extensive mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, offshore reefs and islands, and the largest dugong population on the east coast of Australia. 

In May, a ranger team sprayed woody weeds (mostly sicklepod and hyptis) around the littoral rainforest patch, boat ramp and roadsides. A  second team scouted for suitable areas for camping to alleviate pressures on the coastal vegetation around the ramp. 

“This is a popular spot, but it has been free rein for many years, so there are a lot of tracks and litter throughout the area,” James said. 

“New campsites have also been established, the beach area has been cleaned up and about 2km of fencing is being installed to prevent vehicle and cattle access to the beachfront,” he continued. 

“The rangers have also installed signage for visitors to explain the changes and how individuals can respect the area and keep it clean.”

The project restoration of Starcke Creek and surrounding country was delivered in partnership with Cape York NRM and Juunjuwarra Traditional Owners, funded by the Australian Government’s Land Care Program.