A selection of community groups will share funding to protect and enhance a region’s “remarkable” environmental assets.
Projects to safeguard endangered turtle nests, clean up hazardous fishing waste, and give young people a voice on climate change will receive a share of $85,000 under the Noosa Council’s 2026-27 Environment and Climate Change Response Grants.
The council’s environmental services manager Ben Derrick said the initiatives were crucial.
“These grants provide a valuable chance to work alongside local community groups, strengthen their capabilities and deliver real on‑ground results that protect and enhance Noosa’s remarkable environmental assets, whilst also protecting community from the growing impacts of climate change,” he said.
Teewah Landowners Association Inc was one of the well-deserved grants recipients for its Teewah Turtle Trackers Monitoring and Conservation Initiative, which protects endangered turtle nests along Teewah Beach.
“Getting this Council grant enables us to improve our beach monitoring program. Last year our volunteers located 22 nests, up from seven the previous season,” Teewah Landowners Association chairman Paul Winter said.
“It will help us boost our dawn patrols, keep a closer eye on nests during the gestation period, improve our data collection and respond quickly when something happens: all backed by accredited training and strong partnerships for strandings response.
“With more eyes on the ground and less disturbance, we’re setting things up for better long term conservation results and more sustainable coastal management into the future.”
Other recipients of grants include Noosa and District Landcare, for a 12-month project targeting the removal of invasive Cat’s Claw Creeper and Madeira Vine on a number of properties in the Pinbarren section of Six Mile Creek.
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Wildlife Noosa Ltd will also receive a grant to expand its targeted river clean-ups that remove hazardous fishing waste, preventing injuries and deaths to native birds, pelicans and other wildlife.
Climate change response grants were awarded to: Zero Emissions Noosa Inc, to support clean, affordable energy access for some of the most vulnerable residents in Noosa as well as to support clean, affordable transport initiatives; Noosa Integrated Catchment Association Inc, for supporting residents with climate resilience information on Noosa’s native plants; and The Trustee for The Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust, for a youth-led climate summit in 2027.
“We’re excited to team up with the Noosa Environmental Education Hub to deliver a free, youth‑led Future Tide – 2027 Noosa Youth Climate Summit at the J Theatre on 27 May 2027,” Noosa Biosphere Reserve foundation chair Fiona Berkin said.
“This event is all about empowering young people to take real climate action through youth keynote talks, student‑run sessions, hands‑on workshops and a sustainable careers expo. We’re also weaving in First Nations knowledge sharing to honour cultural stewardship and help deepen our community’s connection to Country.”
