mangroves_84429_05.jpg: Shannon Wade, Chloe Harrison, Patrick Golding and Conner Bride were disappointed to learn that the mangrove seedlings were disturbed. In the front row is Tahlia Binaisse, Tanya Hayes, and Olivia Kotowski holding the seedlings. 84429 Picture: DONNA OATES
By Danielle Galvin
MANGROVE seedlings that help reduce the erosion of cliffs in Jam Jerrup have been deliberately ripped out by beach vandals.
Students from Kooweerup Secondary College and Kooweerup Primary School had planted the seedlings along the shoreline in Jam Jerrup in an effort to protect the cliff face from erosion.
But in recent weeks, the seedlings, which were planted by a group of students from the college in March, were ripped out and lay flattened on the beach.
Dr Tim Ealey, co-ordinator of the mangrove project for the Westernport Seagrass Partnership, alerted the school to the destruction.
“About four weeks ago we went to check on them – you only need to check about six months after they have been planted,” he said.
“The whole lot had disappeared.”
In the past two years, the high school students have planted 600 mangrove seedlings and within five years they would have started preventing erosion.
The students were shattered to discover that more than 300 of their plants had been pulled out by vandals and these included two grown plants planted by Kooweerup Primary School students six years ago.
Lab manager at the college John Eddy said the mangroves hadn’t been disturbed before.
“They were planted on March 27 and we hadn’t been back,” he said.
It was hoped that the mangrove seedlings would grow to become large shrubs to reduce wave energy and to help protect the coastline from erosion.
The scientists working on the project believe that a band of mangroves once protected most of the shore of this part of the bay.
Dr Ealey said it was a criminal offence to remove the mangroves and said offenders could be prosecuted.
The mangrove seedlings had been growing in the college’s horticultural centre since December last year and the students and staff worked hard to plant the 300 seedlings earlier this year.
“We can leave a gap at this place if need be. We would really like to hear from the culprits and can come to a compromise, although the cliffs will suffer,” he said.
“The Bass Coast Shire which is enthusiastic about the project has provided us with signs, one of which will be placed at the southern car park by the Lang Lang Foreshore Committee.”
