Maroochy River declared Fish Habitat Area

Location and plan number

  • Parts of Maroochy River, Eudlo Creek, Petrie Creek and Coolum Creek north of Maroochydore
  • Plan number: FHA-008 (Revision 1)
  • Sunshine Coast Council

Size and management level

Total size: 790 ha:

  • 176 ha – Management A
  • 614 ha – Management B.

Declaration history

  • 16 March 1974: Original declaration of Maroochy River Fish Habitat Reserve.
  • 17 November 1983: Original declaration of Maroochy Wetland Reserve.
  • 13 August 1999: Redeclaration:
    • redeclared to cadastral boundaries
    • combine the 2 Maroochy Fish Habitat Areas.
  • 5 September 2014: Redeclaration:
    • exclusions around Cooks Road
    • removal of Boggy Creek
    • reinstate the tidal lands of Eudlo Creek and Coolum Creek Regional Parks.

Management features

  • Management of recreational fishing area within a relatively undisturbed estuarine landscape.
  • Important juvenile and adult fish habitat.
  • Limited habitat modification (runnels) for mosquito control.
  • Sugarcane.
  • Residential, including revetments, and open space areas on some adjacent lands.

Habitat values

  • Scattered mangroves (Rhizophora, Bruguiera and Avicennia) with areas of saltmarsh on the Maroochy River northern shore
  • Mangrove fern (Acrostichum speciosum) on the Maroochy River southern shore
  • Small sparsely vegetated sandbanks
  • Well-established closed mangrove forests in Coolum Creek Conservation Park.

Fisheries values

  • Important recreational fishing area.
  • Species:
    • Australian bass
    • Bream
    • Estuary cod
    • Blue salmon
    • Flathead
    • Garfish
    • Jewfish
    • Luderick
    • Mangrove jack
    • Sea mullet
    • Tailor
    • Whiting
    • Mud crabs
    • School prawns
    • Greasyback prawns
    • Eastern king prawns
    • Banana prawns
    • Bay prawns.

Other values

  • Popular recreation area.
  • Habitats support populations of the vulnerable water mouse (Xeromys myoides).