Protecting Billingooroo: A Call to Permanently Close Cable Beach to Vehicles

Image Credit: Yisah Bin Omar, 2024. Cable Beach Broome, Western Australia

Cable Beach, with its stunning sunsets and pristine sands, is a world-renowned destination that draws thousands of visitors to Broome each year. However, what many may not realise is that this iconic beach, known to the Djukun people as Billingooroo, is not only a place of breathtaking beauty but also a site of deep cultural significance and ecological importance. For the Djukun, Billingooroo is a sacred site, and it is where the vulnerable flatback Goolibel—turtles in the Djukun language—come to lay their eggs. 

The Djukun people, of Djukun Country, are calling for a permanent closure of the vehicle ramp at Cable Beach to protect these flatback goolibels and preserve the cultural integrity of Billingooroo. The current practice of allowing vehicles to access the beach is having a devastating impact on both the environment and the survival rate of flatback goolibel hatchlings. This article explores the urgency of this issue and why the Djukun people’s call for a permanent ban on vehicles at Cable Beach must be heeded.

For the Djukun people, Billingooroo is more than just a beach, it is a place of profound cultural significance. It is a site where their ancestors have lived, fished, and performed ceremonies for thousands of years. The area holds spiritual importance, and its protection is vital to maintaining the cultural heritage and identity of the Djukun people. Preserving Billingooroo is not just about safeguarding a piece of land, it is about protecting a living connection to Djukun history, culture, and spirituality.

In the fight to protect Billingooroo, Djukun Elder Mary Ozies underscores the deep cultural connection her people have to the land. She reflects, "We Djukun people were taught from a young age, wherever you go on Djukun Country, just leave your footprints. We were taught to hunt and fish sustainably and take only what we need. Like our Djukun ancestors before us, we looked after the country, and the country looked after us."

Mary's words highlight the enduring responsibility the Djukun people feel toward preserving their sacred lands. Her comment serves as a poignant reminder of the traditional knowledge that has sustained both the people and the environment of Djukun Country for countless generations. The call to permanently close Billingooroo to vehicles is not just about conservation, it’s about honouring the ancient wisdom that has guided the Djukun in their stewardship of Billingooroo.

The presence of vehicles on this sacred site is not only physically damaging but also symbolically disrespectful. The intrusion of modern machinery into such a significant cultural landscape disrupts the spiritual connection the Djukun people have with Billingooroo. To continue allowing vehicles to drive across this sacred site is to undermine the cultural integrity of the Djukun people and disregard their rights and cultural obligations.

Billingooroo is also critically important as a nesting site for the flatback goolibel. Scientific research has shown that Billingooroo is the location where these flatback goolibel return to lay their eggs. The survival of the flatback goolibel is intrinsically linked to the preservation of Billingooroo. Unfortunately, the presence of vehicles on the beach is causing significant harm to these vulnerable creatures.

When vehicles drive on Billingooroo, they compact the sand, making it much harder for flatback goolibel hatchlings to emerge from their nests and make their way to the ocean. The compacted sand creates a physical barrier that many of these tiny goolibel cannot overcome, drastically reducing their survival rate. Moreover, the vibrations from vehicles can disorient and damage the eggs themselves, leading to even fewer successful hatchings.

Protecting the flatback goolibel hatchlings is not just an environmental issue, it is also a matter of cultural preservation. The Djukun people have a cultural obligation to protect these flatback goolibels, which have been part of their land and life for generations. The flatback goolibel are more than just animals, they are a symbol of the enduring connection between the Djukun people and Djukun country. To protect the flatback goolibel is to protect a vital part of Djukun culture and heritage.

Image credit: Bruce Pennicuik

https://www.facebook.com/bruce.pennicuik/videos/1136673350734070/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Broome’s thriving tourism industry is undeniably beneficial to the local economy, but it is also placing immense pressure on the environment. The increasing number of tourists and the associated rise in commercial activities are having devastating impacts on the delicate ecosystems of Billingooroo. Vehicles on the beach are just one example of how human activity is threatening the natural balance.

The environmental degradation caused by vehicles is not limited to the flatback goolibel. The entire ecosystem of Billingooroo is being compromised. The compacted sand affects not only the flatback goolibels but also other species that rely on the beach for nesting and feeding. The damage to the natural landscape is cumulative, and the longer vehicles are allowed to drive on the beach, the greater the harm will be.

The Djukun people, despite having a strong ancestral connection to this land, have little power or voice to challenge the commercial development that is encroaching on their sacred sites. This lack of agency is a profound injustice that must be addressed. The call for a permanent closure of the Cable Beach vehicle ramp is not just a plea for environmental protection, it is a demand for the Djukun people’s rights to be respected and for their voices to be heard.

The Shire of Broome has recently called for public comment on a proposed temporary closure of the Cable Beach vehicle ramp during flatback goolibel nesting season. While this is a step in the right direction, it does not go far enough. The Djukun people are calling for a permanent closure to ensure that Billingooroo and the flatback goolibel are protected for generations to come.

A temporary closure may offer some relief, but it is not a sustainable solution. The pressures on Billingooroo are not going to diminish, and a permanent ban on vehicles is the only way to ensure the long-term preservation of this unique and irreplaceable environment. 

In conclusion, the call to permanently close the Cable Beach vehicle ramp is a call to protect not just the flatback goolibel and their fragile ecosystem but also the cultural heritage of the Djukun people. It is a call to recognise and respect the rights to protect their land and to ensure that Billingooroo remains a place of cultural and environmental significance for future generations. The time to act is now. Let us protect Billingooroo, preserve this precious environment for the flatback goolibel, and honour the Djukun people’s deep connection to their sacred land.

A petition has been started to protect this unique environment for future generations : https://www.change.org/p/protecting-billingooroo-a-call-to-permanently-close-cable-beach-to-vehicles