Regional collaboration for Teewah and Cooloola

The Teewah & Cooloola Working Group (TCWG) has proposed a series of recommendations to improve management of the Cooloola Recreation Area. 

The Teewah & Cooloola Working Group (TCWG) has proposed a series of recommendations to improve management of the Cooloola Recreation Area.

In its submission, provided as part of the state’s Cooloola Recreation Area Management Plan consultation, the group has called for:

• An increase to camping and access/permit fees which would be indexed annually.
• A review and upgrade of the QPWS ticketing system and monitoring via an increase in the number of cameras to provide better data for future planning.
• Fees that are received should be used to fund infrastructure in the area.
• Infrastructure upgrades should be in the form of amenities and toilets in select areas.
• Portaloos should be encouraged for day trippers, at least until new infrastructure is in place.
• Online education should be a compulsory condition for purchasing permits and could be in the form of a questionnaire or survey; and
• A review of the fire ban for campers needs to be investigated in line with controlled burns to reduce risks.

Convened by Noosa Council, the TCWG includes representatives from Gympie Regional Council plus key environmental, state government, business and tourism representatives.

The TCWG formed in 2018, in direct response to concerns raised about the impacts of visitors accessing Teewah Beach within the Cooloola section of The Great Sandy National Park for both recreational beach driving and camping.

Noosa Council Mayor, Frank Wilkie, said the submission was an impressive achievement by the members of the Working Group.

“This joint submission is a testament to the Working Group’s respect for different perspectives and willingness to work collaboratively to benefit different communities across the region,” he said.

Cr Wilkie said individual members of the TCWG were also free to provide their own submissions, expanding on their specific concerns.

Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig said the joint submission aimed to deliver improvements for both residents and visitors to the Noosa and Gympie shires.

“The Teewah group has achieved a lot over the years.  The need for the group to continue is clear.  Changes to camping access at Rainbow Beach has probably exacerbated the problem at Teewah.  The work of the group has just begun.  There is a need for future planning to ensure the changes to access and use of the Teewah area does not simply shift the problem and there is a need to look at other options that can accommodate people who many not be able to access Teewah at some times during the year,” Mayor Hartwig said.

“This group has an important role in protecting the Teewah area and influencing the Government to invest in areas like Rainbow Beach to cater for those displaced by the changes. Simple investment in returning camping numbers at Rainbow Beach to historical levels could have assisted in dealing with the issues Teewah faces,” he said.

“This group’s collaboration is essential to protect Teewah, but not simply by shifting the problem,” Mayor Hartwig said.

“We look forward to working with the State Government to provide further input into how the recommendations put forward by the TCWG could be implemented,” Cr Wilkie said.