About GREAT
About our members
ANARRA
The Australian Native Animals Rescue and Rehabilitation Association (ANARRA) is a
not for profit, 100% volunteer community organisation formed in the early 1990’s.
All ANARRA members contribute their time, their vehicles and their homes to
achieve the group’s primary objective, which is the rescue, rehabilitation and release
of sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife in the Gympie/Wide Bay region including
the Cooloola Coast.
ANARRA operates a 24 hour hotline for members of the public seeking assistance
with wildlife. The hotline receives thousands of calls every year.
ANARRA members travel thousands of kilometres every year rescuing and transporting wildlife. The closest wildlife hospitals are RSPCA Eumundi and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital Beerwah. At any given time, there are over 100 animals in various stages of care/rehabilitation, and this increases significantly in Spring when local wildlife are most active, and during natural disasters.
With an ever-increasing population and ramped up clearing for development, wildlife is increasingly coming to grief through loss of habitat, vehicle strikes, attacks by domestic animals and disease. Persistent drought, floods and violent storms throughout the region are exacerbating the issue as wildlife struggle to find safe habitat and reliable sources for food and water.
Federal and state legislation and local government laws are weak and rarely provide protection or conservation of vegetation and wildlife habitat, further compounding the issue. State and local government in our region do not have personnel employed to rescue or euthanise native wildlife.
ANARRA President: Lesley Swift
ANARRA 24 hour wildlife rescue hotline (07) 5343 4859 (NEW in 2024)
Cooloola City Farm Nursery
Cooloola City Farm Nursery is a volunteer run community native plant nursery located at 17 Amity Place (off Tin Can Bay Road), Tin Can Bay Qld 4580. Local species that suit the coastal environments are our speciality.
Wanted Volunteers: If you love plants, would you like to learn propagation techniques or have experience with plants we would welcome your help.
Opening Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays 8am-3.00pm.
Cash or EFTPOS acceptable
Phone: 0422 215 953
Email address: ccfni09@gmail.com
Cooloola Coastcare
Caring for an important coastal environment, popular with tourists from SE Queensland and international visitors, falls to a merry band of enthusiastic local volunteers and our visiting “volun-tourists” who participate in Citizen Science projects and management activities to magnify the impact of local efforts.
Coastcare was incorporated in 2001 from 2 local groups that started in 1995. Our mission is to protect and restore Cooloola Coast’s species, habitats and ecosystems, for their own sake, and to enrich the lives of current and future generations . Our stewardship includes:
taking on-ground ACTION in nature;
EDUCATING for better practices;
ADVOCATING to influence policy development, regulation, and decision-making;
RESEARCH that enlarges understanding and appreciation of Cooloola’s nature.
Cooloola Coastcare conducts research, citizen science activities, surveying and monitoring across a diverse range of habitats for many species of flora and fauna as well as monitoring the environment on land, fresh water and the marine habitats. These activities include:
● Hosting the annual Cooloola BioBlitz, a Citizen Science survey led by scientists that is documenting the vast biodiversity of the coastal region. Participants travel from across Australia to attend.
● Organising bush regeneration teams who remove weeds and revegetate environmentally important areas.
● Participating in several marine and coastal debris collections each year, in collaboration with other groups concerned about plastic in the ocean.
● Rescuing stranded and injured marine turtles (and the odd seal) and transporting them to and from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Monitoring turtle nesting season from November to March to ensure nests are safe from inundation and vehicle damage. Collecting data for the Queensland Turtle Research Project within the Department of Environment and Science. Providing education and learning activities about marine turtles including a booklet for children camping in the region at Inskip, Rainbow and Teewah Beaches.
● Monitoring water quality in the coastal catchment through a bi-monthly WaterWatch program.
● Hosting an art program and field trips during the Spring Wildflower season (Wildflowering Cooloola). The group has published 2 editions of a pocket guide to local wildflowers with maps of walks to see the flowers.
Coastcare auspices the National Register of Big Trees which aims to document Australia’s champion trees in each species. At least 10 of the National Champions are in the Gympie Region and it is important to protect these ‘Elders of the Forests’.
Coastcare is working towards the development of an Interpretive and Environmental Education and Research Centre in Rainbow Beach over the coming years with the aim of educating residents and visitors about our amazing, internationally accredited region and extending research to understand more of the unique features of the Cooloola Coast.
Coastcare’s work is supported by extensive fundraising and grant writing. Coastcare is a Charity with DGR status. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
President: Lindy Orwin president@cooloolacoastcare.org
Gympie & District Field Naturalists Club Inc.
Founded fifty-three years ago by a small local group interested in learning more about the flora and fauna of the region, the Gympie and District Field Naturalists Club now has an active membership base of about 60 members from many areas of the region. Our members specialise in many areas of the natural environment and flora/fauna interaction.
The Club produces a monthly and bi-monthly Newsletter that helps to document flora and fauna in the region. These Newsletters are held in the Gympie regional library archives. Club activities include field trips to many sites held monthly and for those who have weekdays spare there is a regular monthly Thursday field trip.
In lieu of night meetings, three education workshops are held with invited specialists in a chosen topic. Various members have gained expertise in a number of fields, most notably ornithology but also in more specialised areas such as orchids, animal rescue and a much broader natural history.
Since foundation the Club has provided and in many cases verified identifications that have expanded the known range of certain species.
The Gympie Regional Council area is well known for its rare flora/fauna species which draw visitors to our region. The Club helps to promote the region to visitors from many parts of the world to take advantage of the excellent species numbers to improve species lists.
Images of Gympie’s diverse native species can be viewed on the Gympie Field Nat’s Blog.
Contact: gympiefieldnats68@gmail.com
Phone: (07) 5488 4250
Gympie & District Landcare Group
“Gympie Landcare” was established in 1988 by local graziers making it one of the oldest Landcare groups in Queensland. Our vision is “an abundant, healthy and self-sustaining biosphere’. We aim to achieve this through:
restoring our natural environment through ecosystem regeneration;
shifting our local food production systems to regenerative practices; and
encouraging our communities and businesses to adopt sustainable ways of living and working.
Over its course of 37 years, Gympie Landcare has gradually transformed from a volunteer-run organisation to a not-for-profit social enterprise. We currently have approximately 400 members, employ 15 staff, and have more than 20 regular volunteers. Our business activities and community-based partnerships and projects are run through four
areas:
a native nursery which incorporates both wholesale and retail sections;
an Environment and Conservation team focussed on ecosystem regeneration, including bush regeneration;
consultation and advice;
invasive weed management;
a biological services department which breeds and sells biological control insects as well as biologically based soil improvement measures; and
an education and engagement arm.
Gympie Landcare believes that we all need to work together to increase understanding of the importance and intrinsic worth of a healthy environment. This is particularly key for the Gympie region with its heavy reliance on agriculture, forestry and nature-based tourism. We also believe that by supporting the uptake of regenerative and sustainable practices in the Gympie region, we will not only restore ecological resilience, we also strengthen community resilience and wellbeing, thereby encouraging whole-of-system health in our region.
President: Alexandra van Beek president@gympielandcare.org.au
5 Groves Road, Araluen QLD 4570 P: (07) 5483 8866
Gympie and District Sustainability Alliance
GASDA is a group of concerned citizens who are aware of the urgent need to reduce the adverse effects of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions at the local and national level.
We believe every individual, household and business can make changes to reduce our respective impacts.
GADSA aims to:
Engage with our local community, specifically: our citizens, civic entities and businesses, with the express goal of promoting sustainable communities;
Advocate for the adoption of best environmental and social practices with respect to water conservation, renewable energy, clean transportation, energy efficient housing design, agricultural management and waste recycling;
Ensure social equity is achieved in our community by ensuring all sectors of our community can benefit from the changes; and
Encourage recycling within the community.
GADSA has a Container for Change account, CID 10217318. Any donations of recyclable containers under this scheme are credited to the GADSA account and fund our activities.
Chris Bowman, Email info@gadsa.net
Koala Action Gympie Region Inc.
KAGR is a community-based, non
profit organisation run solely by volunteers. The objectives of KAGR are to:
Engage the community in contributing data on koala populations in the Gympie region;
Educate the community about koalas as an endangered species;
Initiate and support activities that reduce harm to koalas by conserving and improving their habitat; and
Working collaboratively with key stakeholders, to improve the protection and long-term sustainability of koalas and their habitat.
Our PEEK (Planting Environment for Endangered Koalas) Project was initiated to protect and conserve Gympie’s koala populations. PEEK involves koala habitat enhancement on private properties and plantings on council land as available.
We work in conjunction with GRC on data collection using Wildwatch.
We run forums and other information sessions for the community to learn about koalas.
KAGR works collaboratively with other environment and wildlife groups on things such as government liaison, funding projects, sharing ideas etc.
KAGR President: Robyn Jackson, president@kagr.org.au
Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee
MRCCC is a non-profit, non regulatory community organisation formed in 1994 to address issues facing the river on a whole of catchment basis, involving all those who have a stake in the river system, including representatives from 27 government, industry and community organisations.
Today, collectively, the MRCCC reaches out to thousands of catchment residents through our stakeholder delegates, landholders and associated networks throughout the Mary Catchment, across an area of approximately 10,000 km2 and 3000+ km of waterways.
Over the past 30 years, the MRCCC has successfully developed and implemented projects aimed at improving waterway health, aquatic biodiversity and adoption of best practice land management for the Australian Government Departments of Agriculture and Environment, local government across the Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions, State Government including the Department of Main Roads and the Department of Environment and Science, regional organisations and industry groups. Over the past 30 years, the MRCCC has invested over $25 million into the catchment economy, generating at least a twofold in-kind contribution from project partners and associated stakeholders.
Implementing best land management practices, managing stock access to waterways, installing off-stream watering points, removing woody and vine weeds and revegetating with local native species are key on-ground projects for the MRCCC and rural land managers we assist.
Our highly experienced team of 10 Environmental Scientists specialises in providing a range of services to government, industry and rural land managers with a focus on water quality, aquatic biodiversity, erosion and sediment control and fauna surveying and monitoring.
The MRCCC Resource Centre is located at 25 Stewart Terrace, Gympie and is open from 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday. Members of the public are welcome to enquire about land and water management, flora and fauna identification and bring in a bore, creek or dam water sample for basic water testing. The Committee meets approximately every six weeks to discuss issues affecting the catchment and plan future actions that improve catchment health.
MRCCC Chairman: Ian Mackay admin@mrccc.org.au
Resource Centre: 25 Stewart Terrace, Gympie.
Phone: 07 5482 4766
The National Register of Big Trees
Australia's LARGEST trees of each species are recorded in this Register. The home of the register is in Goomboorian but it covers all of Australia. The surveys in the Gympie area are in progress with 10 nominees in different species already registered.
Objectives
To promote the preservation of big trees as impressive examples of tree growth, natural beauty, valuable genetic resources, and inspiring symbols of conservation. Many of our big trees are situated on privately owned land. Recognition of big tree preservation is a significant contribution to conservation on the part of the landowners, and is an intrinsic element of the project.
To promote the preservation and propagation of trees for; environmental, commercial, recreational, and domestic purposes.
Contact: Sam Mitchell
Email: nrbtaus@gmail.com
New website under development.
Save the Mary River Coordinating Group Inc.
Based in Kandanga, the Save the Mary Coordinating Group Inc. (STMRCG) is a community-based group formed two days after the Queensland Government’s surprise announcement in April 2006 that it intended to dam the Mary River at Traveston Crossing.
Home of the Mary River Festival
Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council Inc
WBBEC is an apolitical, Not-for-Profit environmental advocacy organisation. A member group of the Queensland Conservation Council, WBBEC’s mission is to protect the natural environment through policy advice and community education of the five Local Government Areas of the Wide Bay Burnett: Gympie, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, North and South Burnett Regions. In the Gympie Region, WBBEC has reciprocal membership arrangements with other member groups of the GREAT Consortium.
Our aim is a healthy and resilient environment that is essential to a vibrant and sustainable future; for example, we participate in Reference Groups for Borumba Pumped Hydro, Paradise Dam Reference Groups and the Forest Wind Project.
President: David Arthur