Cruising our Pumicestone - no nicer way to spend the day
Council is offering discounted cruises to Sunshine Coast Council residents, giving them the chance to experience the wonder that is the Pumicestone Passage. Residents will learn all about the species that call the passage home, the pressures, the history and the work that's being done by Council and the community through the Pumicestone Passage and Catchment Action Plan.
Picture the scene: You’re lying back, the winter sun spreading a delicious warmth on your face and the sound of lapping water and birdsong fills the air. You’ve nowhere to go and feel a million miles away from anywhere.
That dream is closer than you think.
Council is offering discounted cruises to Sunshine Coast Council residents, giving them the chance to experience the wonder that is the Pumicestone Passage.
The Pumicestone Passage is a haven for migratory birds and an aquatic playground, but while it is a major drawcard for visitors - attracting thousands each year - drifting along can still make you feel like you’re the last person in the world.
Cruises will run May 18 and 25, tickets cost just $12.50 but spaces are limited. Visit www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au to book.
Environment Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said the two-hour cruises were aimed at raising awareness and community stewardship of this internationally protected site.
“Residents will learn all about the species that call the passage home, the pressures, the history and the work that’s being done by Council and the community through the Pumicestone Passage and Catchment Action Plan,” Cr McKay said.
“It is human nature to look after the things you hold dear, so we’ll be showcasing this amazing area and highlighting all the elements that make it special.
“The passage is just one element—more species of bird have been recorded in the Pumicestone Passage and Bribie Island than in Kakadu National Park and the site has national protection and is internationally recognised as a sanctuary for migratory birds.
“But the Pumicestone catchment is bigger than the passage alone—it stretches from the Glasshouse Mountains in the west to Bribie Island in the east and is economically, historically and culturally rich and diverse.
“There are Indigenous midden sites dating back more than 2000 years, farmers who have worked and toiled the land for generations, community groups working tirelessly to protect the catchment—all these things, together with the rich environmental values weave together to create a truly magnificent area.”
To find out more about the cruise and the Pumicestone, visit Council’s website.