Every year Townsville hosts a round of the Offshore Superboats Championship. However despite the name, the race does not take place offshore but is held in the Cleveland Bay Dugong Sanctuary, a sensitive sea grass habitat that is home to additional threatened species such as sea turtles and snubfin dolphins.

Sea turtles and other marine megafuana are often victims to boat strikes due to their limited vision and hearing on the surface. If sea turtles cannot avoid boats moving at a normal speed think how hard it will be for a turtle to avoid a speeding powerboat!

Sea Turtle Foundation acknowledges the moves made by the race organisers to mitigate impacts, such as moving the race date away from sea turtle nesting season. However Sea Turtle Foundation does not believe that this race can ever be safe for marine animals when held in shallow waters above sea grass feeding grounds. Therefore Sea Turtle Foundation is calling for this race to be relocated to a true offshore position above deep water where there is less chance of impacts with marine wildlife.

04 June 2010 deadline to have your say!
The proposal to hold the 2010 Powerboat Race in Townsville is open to public comment until 04 June 2010. Please note that consideration will only be given to points that will have a significant impact on matters protected by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation  Act (EPBC) so it’s not enough to simply state that you don’t like the race. However your correct submission will ensure a proper assessment of the environmental impacts is made. To download a simple cut and paste submission that you can email please click here.

Picture this page shows a sea turtle killed by a boat propeller. Note this death was not a result of a Powerboat Race boat but of a boat moving at normal speed.