Sand to help penguins span island

by Meena Lakshana

March 31, 2008

SAND from the mainland will next month be deposited on Penguin Island, off Rockingham’s coast, to address severe erosion that’s started to hamper penguin movement.

“It is the safest and softest option,” Shawn Debono of WA’s environment department said. “The sand is taken from the surrounding area because it has the same particle size to the sand found on Penguin Island.”

On the mainland, sand will be shifted from the Point Peron sandtrap to Mersey Point. It will then be pumped across the sandbar that links the island to Rockingham. The project aims to enrich the island’s South Beach with 7000 to 10,000 cubic meters of sand.

The sand should ensure 40 years of protection from acute erosion, said Mr Debono, depending upon whether there’s regular storms or not. He added sand pumping was efficient and maintained the state of the vegetation on the island.

The population of Little Penguins is having difficulty crossing to the other side of the island due to the erosion, which is also damaging infrastructure such as boardwalks and steps. According to departmental spokeswoman Liz Grant, the sea-skimming birds will be guarded from any serious impact.

“The penguins will not need to be rehabilitated because they will remain on the island,” she assured. “Only the sand on South Beach is being replenished, which will create minimal disturbance on the island, so the rest of the island will not be affected and work will be completed before the penguins’ winter breeding season.”

Dr Belinda Cannell, a member of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park Management Plan Focus Group, will monitor the penguins during the project.  Dr Cannell also arranges walks around the island. For further details, call the Penguin Hotline at 0405 397 913.