About Us
Stewards of the natural world of the Cooloola Coast
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.
Cooloola Coastcare Association Inc. is a not-for-profit community Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisation operating on the Cooloola Coast and Southern Great Sandy Strait in South-East Queensland.
Cooloola Coastcare's Role
To value, protect and enhance the natural environment, particularly coastal and marine areas.
To draw the attention of the local community to the need to use ecologically sustainable conservation and land use practices.
To engender in local communities, including local industries, a sense of stewardship for coastal and marine areas.
To promote the adoption of management and land use practices that create a balanced ecosystem and conserve biodiversity thereby ensuring the future livelihood of local people.
To foster cooperation between stakeholders wherever action is needed to rehabilitate degraded habitats and undertake joint projects when needed.
Cooloola Coastcare Natural Resource Management (NRM) Strategy
Member of the Burnett-Mary Regional Group- Practical Solutions for NRM.
Work collaboratively with Council in planning coastal NRM works and projects for conservation, education, erosion management, water quality and biodiversity.
Attract external funding.
Manage, implement and acquit NRM and education projects.
Build capacity within the coastal community, including schools to become involved in coastal NRM activities through displays, presentations, on-ground works and website.
Supervise work teams such as organised conservation and community volunteers.
History
Background by founding member, Jan Olley.
‘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 Levy and a wide range of grants has enabled the employment of a Projects Coordinator to develop and assist with the implementation of projects.