Noosa working group recommends changes for Cooloola Recreation Area

Fee hikes along with BYO loos for day trippers are just a few changes recommended for a world-famous beachside recreation park north of Noosa, labelled a ‘s---hole’ by some.

Fee hikes along with BYO loos for day trippers are just a few changes recommended for a world-famous beachside Queensland recreation park north of Noosa labelled a ‘s---hole’ by some.

Fees would increase for camping and access to a popular beachside recreation area north of Noosa, which would fund infrastructure for the park like more toilets, a working group has recommended.

The Teewah and Cooloola Working Group has proposed recommendations to improve management of the Cooloola Recreation Area.

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

The recreation area is between Noosa and Rainbow Beach, encompassing the Teewah Beach camping areas along with much of the upper Noosa River and tributaries and is managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife.

In April this year, Teewah Beach was labelled a “s--t hole” by some visitors after pictures emerged of a loaded nappy on the beach at Teewah Village and another Facebook user described seeing Teewah Beach visitors tipping portaloo contents on the ground.

Teewah Beach, once described as “heaven”, was recently described as a “stinking s---hole” online by some.

In its submission, provided as part of the state’s Cooloola Recreation Area Management Plan consultation, the working group called for an increase to camping and access/permit fees that would be indexed annually and a review and upgrade of the QPWS ticketing system and monitoring via more cameras to provide better data for planning.

Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie. Picture: Iwan Jones

The working group said that fees received should be used to fund infrastructure in the area and infrastructure upgrades should be in the form of amenities and toilets in select areas.

The working group has also recommended that day trippers should carry portaloos, at least until new infrastructure was in place.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife website stated the rate for camping in national parks from the beginning of this month was $7.25 per person per night, or $29 per family per night.

The working group also recommended online education should be a compulsory condition for purchasing permits and a review of the fire ban for campers needed investigation.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig.

Noosa Council Mayor Frank Wilkie said the submission was an impressive achievement.

Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig said the need for the group to continue was clear.

“Changes to camping access at Rainbow Beach has probably exacerbated the problem at Teewah,” he said.

“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 may not be able to access Teewah at some times during the year.”

A Department of Environment spokeswoman said the department welcomed the feedback from the working group.

“A large volume of submissions were received during the consultation phase, which ended on 4 June 2024, both via written submission and the online survey,” she said.

“The department is in the process of thoroughly analysing and evaluating the feedback which will be used in conjunction with the findings of the Cooloola Sustainable Visitor Capacity and Management study to inform the preparation of the final management plan.

“The department has had close relations with the Teewah Working Group since the group’s inception, and will continue to assess and respond to group feedback both through the Cooloola management planning consultation process and in response to any ongoing representation.”