Noosa Shire Landholder Guide

Supporting Conservation, Restoration & Sustainable Land Management in the Noosa Shire

This guide has been developed to equip landholders — whether rural or residential — with practical knowledge and tools to care for their land and contribute to the health of Noosa’s unique ecosystems. It celebrates the region’s rich biodiversity, outlines key environmental challenges, and offers locally tailored solutions to help you protect and restore your property and surrounding landscapes.

Whether you’re just beginning your land management journey or already actively involved, this guide is your go-to resource for making informed decisions that benefit both your land and the broader environment.

How To Use This Guide

1. Find your place in the landscape

Navigate through the landscape sections of the Noosa Shire to identify which area best describes your property. These sections offer insights into the vegetation communities, waterways, soils, and geology that may be present on your land.

2. Identify your vegetation community

Match your existing vegetation to the vegetation communities described for the Noosa Region. Discover what species, fire regimes, and ecological values define your block—and what threats may be present. Access tailored advice for managing and restoring these vegetation communities.

3. Understand your waterways

Get to know the two major catchments of the Noosa Shire—the Mary and Noosa River. Take a closer look at waterway health, types, and restoration strategies.

5. Access practical land management tips

Browse through land management topics like erosion control, weeds, and ecological restoration. Use these tools to make well-informed decisions that promote ecological health and sustainability.

The development of this guide has been made possible with the support of Noosa Council.

Noosa Landcare would like to acknowledge the contributions from Noosa Council’s Land For Wildlife Program, Noosa Parks Association, Noosa Integrated Catchment Association, Urban Wildlife Gardens, Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and the Mary River Catchment Coordination Committee.

Welcome to the Noosa Shire

Nestled at the northern end of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on Kabi Kabi country, the Noosa Shire is renowned for its stunning landscapes, vibrant communities, and strong history of environmental stewardship. Covering 87,000 hectares and home to approximately 59,000 residents, the shire encompasses both a bustling coastal community as well as diverse rural lifestyles throughout its hinterland.

The Shire enjoys 64 regional ecosystems—from pristine beaches and tidal estuaries to lush hinterland forests and freshwater creeks. The entire Noosa Shire is a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve, in recognition of its integration of community with environmental management.

The region’s rich biodiversity supports iconic species such as koalas, glossy black cockatoos, and our very own floral emblem, Key’s Boronia (Boronia keysii). Thanks to more than six decades of strong community leadership, particularly by the Noosa Parks Association, over 42% of our shire’s bushland areas are today protected under formal covenants, whether this be National Park, Bushland Reserve or Nature Refuge. The hundreds of Land for Wildlife and Voluntary Conservation Agreement private landholders add to this environmental repository. Furthermore, the many members of conservation organisations such as Noosa Parks Association, Urban Wildlife Gardens, Noosa Integrated Catchment Association, Mary River Catchment Coordination Committee, various bushcare groups, and Noosa & District Landcare collectively pay testament to the commitment of locals to the natural environment.

As the Noosa Council tagline puts it, Noosa is ‘different by nature.’ Many in the community value the long-standing integration of the natural landscape with the built environment. Indeed, since the 1980s, it been a conscious strategy that the natural landscape should take aesthetic precedence. The region’s unique scenery is thus central to Noosa’s character, shaping its charm and appeal. The result of this point of difference has resulted in Noosa becoming a tourism hotspot. Balancing its role as a popular holiday destination with the needs of permanent residents is generally well managed—though not without its challenges. Growing population pressures and increasing visitation continue to test this balance, making community collaboration and careful planning more important than ever.

Tourism thrives on the region’s natural assets, while local initiatives champion regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and habitat restoration. Community groups, landholders, and council will need to work collaboratively to tackle challenges like invasive species, waterway health, and climate resilience.

More than a destination, Noosa Shire is a living example of environmental stewardship, and community spirit. Its people lead the way in protecting ecosystems, celebrating cultural heritage, and shaping a sustainable future for generations to come.

In 2007, Noosa Shire was internationally recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, placing it among a global network of over 780 reserves across 142 countries (with only five sites in Australia). Different to world heritage status or protected lands, this prestigious status celebrates Noosa’s long-standing commitment to a balanced relationship between people and nature.

Biosphere reserves are living, learning places, where communities and sustainable development sit alongside conservation, business and community-led innovation, and environmental research. Our Noosa Biosphere Reserve encompasses the Noosa Shire, extending 3km offshore and adjoins neighbouring Sunshine Coast and Great Sandy Biosphere Reserves.

The Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation was established by Noosa Council in 2015 to progress the global aims of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme in the Noosa Shire. The Noosa Biosphere Reserve serves as a “living laboratory” where ecological health, cultural values, and a smart economy are nurtured for future generations.

Kabi Kabi Country

The Noosa Region sits within Kabi Kabi country. The Kabi Kabi people’s traditional country spans a vast area in Southeastern Queensland, primarily along the Sunshine Coast, extending from Caboolture in the south to Bundaberg in the north.

For tens of thousands of years, the Kabi Kabi People have thrived in diverse environments—from surf-washed shores and tidal estuaries to dense rainforests dominated by Bunya Pines. Abundant resources supported large populations, with local groups trading, sharing ceremonies, and forming marriage alliances. These networks extended to neighbouring nations, including Butchulla, Gooreng Gooreng, Wakka Wakka, Jinibara, and Yugarapul, and were central to major cultural gatherings like the Bunya Festivals held in the Bunya Mountains.

In June 2024, the Federal Court formally recognised the Kabi Kabi people as native title holders of over 365,345 hectares of land and waters. This historic determination affirms the Kabi Kabi People ‘s enduring connection to Country and provides a legal framework to strengthens future decision-making, safeguards cultural heritage, and fosters collaboration on Country.

Following this historic achievement, Noosa Council entered a groundbreaking commitment to sustainable custodianship of the lands and waters of Noosa, in partnership with Kabi Kabi People’s Aboriginal Corporation (KKPAC). This Commitment between Noosa Council and the Kabi Kabi People acknowledges Noosa’s First Nations people and their deep cultural and spiritual connection to the natural systems that sustain us.

Landscape Sections

1. Coastal and Estuarine

From the beach to 5km from the coastline

Waterways: Lower Noosa River (Estuarine and Freshwater wetlands) and coastal creeks.

Sand-based streams, lake systems and estuary.

Plant communities: Littoral rainforest, Paperbark wetlands and woodlands, Open Eucalypt Forest, heath, mangrove and saltmarsh.

Geology and soil: Coastal sand hills and old coastal sand plains.

Land use: Residential, industrial, recreational parks, national park and bushland reserves. This has a high population density.

2. Riverine and floodplain

From 5-40km from the coastline

Waterways: Noosa subcatchment creeks – Kin Kin, Cooroibah, Ringtail, Cooloothin, and Sandy Creek and main trunk of Six-Mile Creek and connecting tributaries of the Mary River.

Lake systems, sand-based streams and clay-based streams.

Plant communities: Paperbark wetlands and woodlands, Coastal and subcoastal floodplain grass swamps, Open and Tall Open Eucalypt Forest, Rainforest and Vine Thickets

Geology and soil: Alluvial and old coastal sand plains.

Land use: Residential, rural residential, rural – lifestyle blocks and primary production, small areas of industrial, recreational parks, national park and bushland reserves.

3. Foothills

From 10km – 40km of the coastline

Waterways: Upper Noosa subcatchment creeks – Kin Kin, Cooroibah, Ringtail, Cooloothin Creek, and Sandy Creek, Mary River Catchment – Upper Six-Mile Creek Catchment.

Clay-based streams, sand-based streams, and gravel-based streams.

Plant communities: Paperbark wetlands and woodlands, Open and Tall Open Eucalypt Forest, Rainforest and Vine Thickets

Geology and soil: Alluvial fans, and softer, younger, or highly eroded sedimentary rock layers.

Land use: Residential, rural residential, rural – lifestyle blocks and primary production, recreational parks, national park and bushland reserves.

4. Ridges and Ranges

From 20km -40km of the coastline

Waterways: Headwaters of Kin Kin Creek, Six Mile Creek and Belli Creek.

Bedrock streams, clay-based streams, and gravel-based streams.

Plant communities: Open and Tall Open Eucalypt Forest, Rainforest and Vine Thickets

Geology and soil: Igneous and metamorphic rock layers.

Land use: Residential, rural residential, rural – lifestyle blocks and primary production, recreational parks, national park and bushland reserves.

Waterways of the Noosa Shire

Noosa Shire is shaped by two major river catchments—the Noosa and Mary Rivers—along with unique coastal creeks and wetlands. These waterways are more than scenic landscapes; they safeguard biodiversity, support agriculture, provide drinking water to our community, and offer endless opportunities for recreation.

From the world-renowned Noosa Everglades to the vital habitats of Six Mile Creek, these systems are central to our environment, culture, and community.

Explore their values, understand the challenges, and learn how you can support healthy waterways on your own block.

Vegetation Communities

Across Noosa Shire, the landscape is alive with a rich mosaic of vegetation communities. Shaped by soil, geology, climate, fire, and the unique mix of plants and animals, these communities create one of Australia’s biodiversity hotspots—and define the natural beauty that makes Noosa so unique.

Discover the unique ecosystems that shape Noosa—learn their values, understand the threats they face, and find out how you can help restore and protect them on your block.

Managing Your Block

Access practical tools and information to manage your land with confidence. Explore topics like erosion control, weed management, and ecological restoration—all designed to help you make informed decisions that protect biodiversity and promote sustainability.

We would love to hear from you!

We’re seeking your feedback to help improve the Noosa Shire Landholder Guide. This short survey asks about your experience using the online guide, its usefulness, and how well it meets your needs as a landholder. Your responses will help us understand what’s working, what could be clearer or more helpful, and what additional resources you’d like to see included.

Thank you for taking a moment to help us make the guide even more practical and valuable for our community.