There’s something truly wonderful about Australia’s coastline. We turn to it for solace and replenishment. We gaze at it. We stroll along it. We muck around in it. Depending on how finely we measure the curves of our mainland and larger islands (such as King, Fraser, and Kangaroo Is.), Australia’s coastline is between 30,270 kms and 69,630 kms long. It’s as varied and rugged as it is beautiful and picturesque. The warm temperate humid coastlines in our populated south-east contain long sandy beaches and rocky headlands, such as Cape Byron and the majestic Sydney Heads. Victoria and Tasmania’s temperate rocky shores are treasured for their beautiful pools of sea life.
South Australia’s warm-temperate arid coastline contains spectacular scenery such as the Nullarbor Cliffs, which spread for 180 kilometres along the Great Australian Bight. To the north-west lies the tropical arid coastline which reveals spectacular features such as Ningaloo Reef, potentially the next World Heritage Area for this beautiful land Australia. The region also contains the rugged indented Kimberly coastline with its spectacular tidal surges. Queensland has the comparatively sheltered and gentle coastline inland from the Great Barrier Reef, where one third of marine living things have recently gained reprieve from all manners of extractive human industry. Australia’s intertidal lands, where the ocean meets the sea, are areas rich in nutrients and biological abundance. These special places include open coastlines with rocky cliffs, headlands and wide open beaches, protected coasts, bays and mud or sandy estuaries where our diverse fish species develop from tiny eggs to free swimming, wild living things. Coastal saltmarshes, mangroves, seagrass, temperate and coral reefs – it is our sea and our future. Our coastal commons are there to treasure or to take for granted. We hold its future in our hands. “I began keeping track of the sea lane outside my window, not only to ease my own anxieties, but also for the sake of world peace and order” Orhan Pamuk: The Boy who watched the Ships go By, Granta 61, Spring 98.
HOT COASTAL TOPICS
* Glyde Point: Situated on Darwin’s doorstep, the Glyde Point area has outstanding natural qualities and cultural importance. Glyde Point is greatly value by locals, recreational fishers, Traditional Owners, and Tourists. However the Government is planning to destroy the area and transform it into 40 square kilometres of dirty polluting industry. Learn more about Glyde Point
* Darwin Harbour: Darwin Harbour is the centre of intense human activity and planned intense industrial development. Yet the harbour is also a place of unsurpassed beauty. AMCS is campaigning in partnership with the NT Environment Centre to see more sustainable uses of the harbour occur. Learn more about Darwin Harbour
* Halt the Salt: The Australian Marine Conservation Society has deep concerns about a salt mine proposed for our precious Western Australian coast. We need your help now to stop this unsustainable project going any further.