{"id":803072,"date":"2026-07-16T02:50:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T02:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/803072\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T02:50:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T02:50:05","slug":"five-metre-exclusion-zone-on-aussie-beach-as-biosecurity-threat-contained-in-bunnings-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/803072\/","title":{"rendered":"Five-metre exclusion zone on Aussie beach as biosecurity threat contained in Bunnings box"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beachgoers at one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations were forced back from a five-square-metre exclusion zone after a biosecurity scare<\/a> on the weekend.<\/p>\n

Orange cones were placed around a sick giant petrel, a migratory bird species, due to concerns it could be carrying the deadly H5 avian influenza strain.<\/a><\/p>\n

Lifeguards at Noosa Heads Beach on Queensland’s<\/a> Sunshine Coast notified authorities, and a local wildlife rescuer was dispatched to help.<\/p>\n

Footage supplied to Yahoo News by Wildlife Noosa<\/a> shows the group’s founder, William Watson, trudging across the sand in full PPE<\/a> as dozens of beachgoers watched on.<\/p>\n

You can see the video directly below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“Everyone pretty much stood back and watched,” Watson said.<\/p>\n

“I felt a bit stupid, but we’re told to gown up.<\/p>\n

“And I was just wearing something I got at Bunnings.”<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

The giant petrel was caught in a net and then placed inside a Bunnings moving box before being carried away for testing.<\/p>\n

(Wildlife Noosa)Rescuers fear mounting costs of PPE and fuel<\/p>\n

To minimise the risk of spreading the virus, birds have to be placed in disposable cardboard boxes rather than reusable carriers.<\/p>\n

In Queensland, the response is being managed by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), but all volunteer rescue groups and charities are responsible for buying their own PPE.<\/p>\n

Like many, Watson is concerned about the cost of buying PPE, boxes, and fuel,<\/a> all adding up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bird was swabbed for testing by RSPCA Queensland,<\/a> and is now in care at Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue<\/a>, a group that crowdfunded $30,000 this month to build quarantine facilities.<\/p>\n

Have you spotted a suspected H5 case? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue were forced to conduct a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for PPE and quarantine facilities.<\/p>\n

(Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue)Rescuer receives round of applause after removing bird<\/p>\n

There have been at least 13 confirmed cases of H5 in three states, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.<\/p>\n

The virus has been introduced to Australia by migratory seabirds. Its detection in a native greater crested tern suggests it may be spreading. And there is a suspected case in a seal in NSW.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Friday, the federal agriculture department (DAFF) said the risk to people remains low. There have only been around 1,000 human cases globally, but worryingly it’s estimated to have a mortality rate of around 50 per cent.<\/p>\n

Watson received a round of applause as he left the beach, helping to keep the public safe.<\/p>\n

New problem facing Australia’s birds<\/p>\n

Next month, thousands of shearwaters will start migrating<\/a> to the region’s beaches, and Watson is unsure how the system will cope.<\/p>\n

“It’s all unfamiliar territory, the virus has been a big game-changer,” he said.<\/p>\n

“A lot of birds are going to be left.”<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

It’s common for shearwaters to die on beaches after flying thousands of kilometres to breed.<\/p>\n

But understanding which ones are simply exhausted, and which could be suffering from H5, will be a challenge.<\/p>\n

In Australia, if the public sees sick or dead seabirds, they’re urged to follow this advice:<\/p>\n

Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n