Members newsletter September-October 2025
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Members Newsletter
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In this edition |
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Thanks to all NPA members who took the time to respond to Noosa Council’s consultation process on the draft Destination Management Plan. There were some 900 responses received by council from all sources. These no doubt include both individual responses as well as survey submissions. As is to be expected, Tourism Noosa worked hard to get their members to respond. As well as public “pop-ups”, council staff organised special presentations for Tourism Noosa members, chambers of commerce, the Noosa Business Group, a collection of environment groups (including NPA) and staff even went into local schools where presentations were given to years 11 and 12 students plus some year 9 students. The students were encouraged to make submissions, complete the survey and/or urge their parents to make submissions. Many of those who responded did so via surveys with loaded questions. As a marketing expert has pointed out, the council’s draft DMP surveys contained questions that directed respondents towards answers that reinforced council’s draft DMP and its embedded narrative. The survey responses, according to this expert, may thus be skewed towards a predetermined result. There was another curious failing during this consultation process. None of the key resident representative groups – including Noosa Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association, Cooroy Area Residents Association, and Peregian Beach Community Association – were approached by staff with the same offer of a presentation that was given to tourism, commerce and environment organisations. This seems odd, given the draft DMP states that it commits to “putting community first” and that it “focuses on listening to the community”. Whatever is contained in the final version of the DMP to be presented to our councillors later in the year, it will not be the last word on the matter. The whole business of destination management is going to be with us for the long haul. You can rest assured that NPA will continue fighting to safeguard resident amenity and to protect the natural environment. Meanwhile, NPA has been actively lobbying on a range of other issues. We are opposing the use of shark netting given the scientific evidence as to both its lack of effectiveness and the considerable by-catch that results from the netting program, particularly during whale migration season. Recently, a mother whale and her calf were entangled in shark nets off Noosa’s Main Beach, and a dolphin died in the same net just days later. We have urged the Queensland Government to rely on scientific evidence when considering shark control programs. We opposed the expansion of the Kin Kin Quarry, which the federal minister has now determined to be a “controlled action” under the EPBC Act. That means the clearing of significant vegetation for the proposed quarry expansion will require assessment and approval under the Act before it can proceed. So that’s a partial win. NPA also made a submission opposing the massive Woolworths development proposal for Cooroy. We believe the development will negatively impact on existing businesses by diverting shoppers away from the CBD. It will also generate significant traffic issues, most particularly at the Myall/Elm Street intersection. In any case, the bulk of the proposed development is not supported by the Noosa Plan zoning for the site on the very edge of town at the corner of Myall Street and Ferrells Road. Meanwhile, we are keeping a close watch on the many matters relating to the Noosa River, including the state’s proposal for a Waterways Authority and the Resilient Rivers process initiated by the SEQ Council of Mayors.
Best wishes Tony Wellington |
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Photo credit: Tony Wellington |
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Friday Environment Forum |
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Recently Friday Environment Forum farewelled Di Shun Wah after 15 years of leading the Friday Forum team. Di was thanked for her enormous contribution over many years and she welcomed Lyn Graham to the position of FEF Team Leader.
In recent months large audiences have enjoyed a range of presentations.
Coming Forums: 10 October: Birding in the Pantanal and Amazon of Brazil with Carol Popple 24 October: Citizen Science Platforms and Threatened Plant Species with Paul Donatiu 14 November: Borneo, Bears and Books with Dr Sarah Pye 28 November: Amazing Mating Behaviour of Our Local Fauna with Tony Wellington
The Friday Environment Forum team would like to invite you to the end of year function, canapes on the deck whilst enjoying the sunset at Noosa Yacht Club on December 5 from 4.30pm -7pm. Cost will be $50 pp to be paid upon registration at any upcoming FEF. Don’t miss out.
Friday Environment Forum is held on 2nd and 4th Friday of the month from 10am till 12pm at NPA’s Environment Centre. Entry is $5 paid by ‘Tap and Go.’ You can learn more about the next forum at www.noosaparks.org.au and sign up for our newsletter. |
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Dr Bonnie Holmes with Bull Shark (image supplied) |
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Noosa National Park – Visitor Information Centre |
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We’re currently in need of more volunteers to keep the Info Hut staffed each day. If you have 4 hours to spare a couple of times a month, we would love to hear from you. Full training provided.
Join our great team of dedicated volunteers who provide a service to the many visitors and locals exploring Noosa National Park, as well as generating an income for NPA’s land fund. The NNP team were an integral part of the success of the Yurol-Ringtail conservation project.
Please email: Dave Vickery Project Officer |
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Bird Observers’ Group |
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The final change to the 2025 program, the September outing, was a return visit to ‘Hidden Valley’ a 30-acre camp ground, Macadamia farm, and ‘Land for Wildlife’ property in the Bli Bli valley. The 28 observers who attended recorded 60 bird species and 11 butterflies. ‘Morton’ the Emu, from the adjoining Parklands Conservation Park, appeared to re-acquaint himself with the group. It was a very pleasant outing.
Russell McGregor, at Friday Forum on 8th August, spoke about his latest publication, ‘Enchantment by Birds’. He started his presentation by relating his personal encounter with a Yellow Chat at Alma Point salt works east of Rockhampton. He then spoke about why he wrote this book. He retired in 2014 after writing ‘solemn stuff’ and wanted to be more creative. He said birding puts us in touch with the wild near home or elsewhere, is accessible to everyone, and believes birdwatching has a bright future.
Our final speaker for this year is Carol Popple. I had been looking for someone to speak on this subject for some time. Fortunately, Carol told me last year that she and Steve had done a birding trip to the Pantanal and would be happy to speak. I know their photos will be amazing and look forward to Carol’s presentation at Friday Forum on 10th October.
Bird numbers at Wallace Park Interpretive Birding seem to fluctuate with the weather but it is always interesting.
At a recent survey of the Ringtail Forest Koala Corridor, spring flowers included many Phebalium woombye bushes. Striated Pardalotes were creating nest tunnels in the root ball of a couple of uprooted trees. We saw a pair of birds circling in the distance, high in the sky. One was identified as Little Eagle. Total bird species identified was 40, and 7 butterflies were seen.
Valda McLean Convenor, Noosa Parks Association Bird Observers’ Group |
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‘Morton’ – Parklands Conservation Park Double-barred finches – Ringtail |
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Striated Pardalot – Ringtail Section of Tewantin National Park |
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Botany Group |
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Sixteen members celebrated the recent launch of Joan Heavey’s latest book with champagne and/or cuppas at the August meeting. Congratulations Joan on the publication of A Field Guide to Native Orchids of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve & the Sunshine, Cooloola and Fraser Coasts. It is a beautifully presented reference book which will be an invaluable identification tool for native orchid enthusiasts and all who want to explore our Coast’s lesser-known flora. Well done Joan on an outstanding publication.
Linda Falkner then presented a workshop on Soil during which she was able to enlighten us on its definition, formation, structure and properties, very useful information for anyone with an interest in plants and planting.
On the final day of winter (yah!) 20 Botany Group members met at the western end of Dame Pattie Drive, Sunrise Beach, and walked downhill through Noosa National Park into Girraween Nature Refuge. A broad sandy track leads through the dry heath area and narrows through a peat area to wet heath and Burgess Creek.
There was much late winter and early spring flowering to be enjoyed, including Burchardia umbellata (Milkmaids), Dillwynia retorta (Heathy Parrot Pea), and Epacris pulchella (Wallum Heath). Gaudium trinervium (formerly Leptospermum) stood out with its dark shaggy bark. A section along each side of the track from dry to wet heath has been burned recently, and the green shoots of Xanthorrhoea johnsonii and flowers of Patersonia gracilis contrasted vividly with the blackened soil. Flowering Drosera binata (Fork-leaved Sundew) was seen in the wet heath. Along the edge of Burgess Creek (photo below credit Robert Price) were stands of Melaleuca quinquenervia and Acacia melanoxylon, flowering Typha orientalis (Bulrush) and Lygodium microphyllum (Climbing Maidenhair Fern). |
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In place of a meeting on 10th October we made an excursion to the John Oxley library. Bob Tooth met our group at Roma Street Station, and we bussed to the State Library. Bob and Robert had organised a viewing of a selection of prints from the Bank’s Florilegium collection, purchased by the State Govt in the late 1980s. The prints were displayed in order of plants collected by Banks and Solander during the Endeavour’s progress from Tierra del Fuego, across the Pacific to New Zealand, up the east coast of Australia and through the Torres Strait to Java. Librarian Joan Bruce and her assistant enthusiastically shared their knowledge of the history and production of the collection which rarely gets an airing, and then mostly to printmakers! We had the opportunity to look closely at this treasure. After lunch we made our way to the Roma Street Parklands for a guided walk with Lawrie Smith, one of the four landscape architects responsible for the design. As he regularly volunteers as a guide, Lawrie has followed closely the development of the gardens and individual plantings, and could provide interesting details about subjects such as the transplanting of this group of Bottle Trees (Brachychiton rupestris). |
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Bank’s Florilegium – credit: Robert Price |
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September’s walk on Rupari Hill was led by John Birbeck who is familiar with the acquisition by Sunshine Coast Council for conservation purposes, of this important parcel of montane heath. Botany Group members were particularly keen to locate specimens of the critically endangered Coochin Hills Grevillea (Grevillea hodgei), but it was not to be. Highlights on the day included the last flowers of the season on Fringe Myrtle (Calytrix tetragona), and the sight (and sound!) of the peeling of trunks of the Glasshouse Mountains Tea Tree (Aggreflorum luehmannii) to reveal fresh bark in stunning colours. |
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Calytrix Tetragona – credit: Robert Price |
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Cooloola Recreation Area – Double Island Point |
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The Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast’s annual Double Island Point Beach Cleanup is on 10-12 October. This is a family friendly FREE event, that each year removes a tonne of rubbish from the Cooloola Recreation Area beach camping area north to Double Island Point. Participants will be provided free vehicle and camping permits, thanks to the generous support of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. You must sign on at the Surfrider Registration tent at the camp site where you will be allocated an area for the beach clean-up, and to validate your permits.
Follow this link for Registrations and all the information – https://
A reminder that there are now no refuse bins in the Cooloola beach camping areas or at Freshwater. New waste transfer stations for the Cooloola Recreation Area have been established at the Noosa North Shore 2nd cutting and at Freshwater Road, off Rainbow Beach Road.
The “pack it in, pack it out” or “carry it in, carry it out” mantra has become a cornerstone of responsible outdoor recreation across Australia. This simple principle encourages visitors to take all their rubbish and belongings with them, helping to maintain the natural beauty of our landscapes. Aligned with the Leave No Trace principles, the aim is to protect and preserve Australia’s parks and forests by encouraging minimal-impact behaviours.
On the spot fines will apply to any person found depositing litter in the recreation area. Click on this link New waste transfer stations – Cooloola Recreation Area for all the information.
Darlene Gower, Double Island Point Project Officer |
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Curated and edited by: Darlene Gower, Honorary Secretary |