People’s Choice: Rachael Bermingham voted Sunshine Coast’s most influential person of 2023

A passionate conservation advocate and entrepreneur has been crowned People’s Choice among the Sunshine Coast Power 50 of 2023.

Author, publisher, TV personality and entrepreneur Rachael Bermingham.

A passionate environmental advocate, successful author and publisher has been crowned People’s Choice among the Sunshine Coast top 50 most influential people of 2023.

Author, entrepreneur and TV personality Rachael Bermingham racked up more than 22 per cent of votes in the Sunshine Coast Daily’s Power 50 poll which was revealed in December.

Australia Zoo’s wildlife warrior and social media starlet Robert Irwin, who topped the Power 50 list in 2023, and Little Mountain gym Wattfit owner Jacob Watson were close behind tied as second choice.

Ms Bermingham, as an advocate for marine life conservation and president of The Beach Matters group, spearheaded efforts to protect the region’s beaches in 2023 including a successful campaign for a redesign of the Mooloolaba Beach seawall proposal and a polystyrene spill clean-up on the coastline between Alexandra Headland to Maroochydore.

Rachael Bermingham during one of her beach clean up efforts. Picture: contributed

She thanked to those who threw their support behind her and voted in the poll.

“I sincerely appreciate the acknowledgment of my volunteer work, and thank the Sunshine Coast community,” Ms Bermingham said.

“It’s a wonderful recognition for all the hundreds of hours put in by both me and the hardworking, dedicated Beach Matters community members.”

The Beach Matters group – now at almost 10,000 members – was initially formed with the help of Sunshine Coast residents to protest against Transport and Main Road’s Mooloolaba to Maroochydore Cycleway plan, which incited a redesign which diminished impacts on dunes and beach access.

Rachael Bermingham and her group presented research and feedback to Transport and Main Roads in order to change the controversial Mooloolaba to Maroochydore Cycleway plans. Picture: contributed

“It transformed a plan that was originally divisive into one everyone was happy with, without impacting on dunes or the way the area is utilised by locals and visitors; it was a great collaborative effort,” Ms Bermingham said.

She said she will participate in her third workshop with Transport and Main Roads, as well as other stakeholders, in 2024 to sculpt an improved public transport plan for the region after leading successful campaigns to scrap the Sunshine Coast light rail proposal.

Massive light rail protest were organised upon the announcement of the light rail proposal. Pictured, Michelle Young and Rachael Bermingham (centre). Photo: Patrick Woods.

She is also working with Maritime Safety Queensland to review a 60-metre breakwater extension plan at Point Cartwright to protect both the environment and boaties, she said.

“Our greatest asset is really our community,” Ms Bermingham said.

“We are a beach-loving community fortunate to have some incredibly experienced, knowledgeable people such as marine scientists and coastal experts through to businesses, families, surfers and anyone living on the Sunshine Coast who just loves and appreciates the beach and lifestyle.”

Rachael Bermingham has played a key role in marine life conservation on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: contributed

In addition to her hours of community work, Ms Bermingham also commandeers her book publishing business Bermingham Books and is the mother to three boys.

Ms Bermingham said she plans to continue her work – including plans for new studies and a push for improved beach maintenance from council staff – to prioritise the beach and ensure the Sunshine Coast “retains its character and point of difference

“With critically endangered loggerhead turtles nesting along our coastline, we have an environmental duty of care to do the right thing – changes are long overdue, and I look forward to seeing these changes implemented through policies and procedures that will preserve the beachfront, while keeping the region moving forward,” she said.