About Us
Winners of the 2017 Queensland Coastcare Award
Cooloola Coastcare Association is the Cooloola Coast's award winning Natural Resource Management group, registered with Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWALC) and supported by Gympie Regional Council through ratepayer's Environment Levy.
Environmental Significance of the Cooloola Region
The Cooloola Coast is a region with stunning natural beauty and high environmental values.
It is recognised as a natural environment of international significance:
UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
Ramsar Wetland of International Significance
UNESCO Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve
Great Sandy National Park: Cooloola Section
Wolf Rock Marine Protection area
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History
Background by founding member, Jan Olley.
(Updated 2023)‘A broad based community consultation process facilitated by Widgee and then Cooloola Shire Council to develop a Conservation Strategy commencing in 1991 resulted in the formation of Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach Coastcare groups in 1995. The aim of these volunteer groups was to promote a partnership between the local community and the Cooloola Shire Council to increase and improve community involvement in Integrated Coastal Management in and around Tin Can Bay, Cooloola Cove and Rainbow Beach.
One of the outcomes of this consultation process was the development of a Tin Can Bay Foreshore Management Plan and Vegetation “Concept Plan” and a Rainbow Beach Foreshore Management Plan and Concept Plan for the preservation and enhancement of Rainbow Beach wetlands. It was envisaged that these plans would address issues raised by the community to manage and protect the foreshores and wetlands in the three key areas.’
Cooloola Coastcare Association Inc was formed in 2001 following the incorporation of Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay Coastcare groups.
Many projects have been coordinated and external funds sourced for the 3 coastal towns since 2001 through Cooloola Coastcare’s status as the locally recognised and registered Natural Resource Management (NRM) group for the Cooloola-Southern Great Sandy Strait Coastal Catchment area.
Cooloola Coastcare is a member of Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC) and the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG). Continued funding from Gympie Regional Council (GRC) Environment Grants and a wide range of other grants has, untile 2022, enabled the employment of a Projects Coordinator to develop and assist with the implementation of projects. Volunteers now run the entire organisation.
Last updated: 9 September 2023