The Noosa River Catchment

The Noosa River catchment encompasses an area of 854sqkm.  The unusually low-lying headwaters of the Noosa River are located on the Como escarpment, deep in the pristine Great Sandy National Park, charged continuously by fresh water springs draining sand deposits.   From there, the river flows generally north to south, fed by over 1,505km of streams, creeks and tributaries that drain six distinct sub-catchments featuring 27 broad vegetation groups including rainforests and scrubs, eucalyptus and melaleuca woodlands, heathlands, wetlands, mangroves and saltmarsh.

The catchment extends through an extensive, shallow and largely unmodified  system of freshwater, brackish and saline (tidal) lakes, marshes, heathlands and estuary and drains to the Noosa river mouth 60km to the south.  Located at the intersection of the Macleay-McPherson overlap, the catchment supports incredibly high biodiversity including 61 different regional ecosystems, 1,340 plant species, almost 350 terrestrial vertebrate animals and 217 species of birds including half of all known migratory shorebirds.

Almost one-third of the catchment is protected within the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park. The catchment also includes two nationally significant wetland areas (Noosa River Wetlands and Lake Weyba) and almost 6,000 hectares of protected fish habitat.  The catchment is home to over 30,000 residents located mostly in contiguous urban south of the catchment and rural hinterland villages.  The catchment forms part of the UNESCO-designated Noosa Biosphere Reserve.  The Noosa River is consistently rated amongst Queensland’s healthiest.

An active participation, volunteer led organisation

NICA is currently undertaking the following projects that raise awareness and improve the environment of the Noosa River Catchment.

• Bushcare; removing weeds and replacing with native vegetation
• Water quality and nutrient testing in the river and lake
• River rangers patrol fortnightly collecting litter and alerting local authorities to any issues that need their attention.
• Monitor shorebirds and waders once a month near the mouth of the Noosa River and record the results in a national database.
• Urban Wildlife Gardens promoting biodiversity in backyards.  Membership includes a garden visit and monthly talks.
• NICA has published 4 botanical publications that promote the use of native plants in the Noosa area.

As a NICA member and volunteer, your capacity to experience, enjoy and conserve the natural environment is limited only by your capacity to participate. Interested ?  Join us

NICA’s Management Committee

• President: Jill Campbell
• Vice President: Bruce Hallett
• Treasurer: Tony Haslam
• Secretary: Gillian Studdock
• Yanni Van Zijl
• Pam Walpole
• Justin Campbell