Aerial view over Coombabah Creek and Brisbane Road, Queensland, circa 1970s. Photographer unknown
Coombabah and its surrounding areas have strong cultural significance for the Yugambeh people. The conservation area, which includes the tidal lake at the mouth of Coombabah Creek, is located between Runaway Bay and Helensvale and consists of approximately 1040 hectares of land environment and over 460 hectares of wetland and waterways.
It is home to over 300 species of flora and fauna and is registered as an important international wetland site. Between May and October each year, a host of migratory birds travelling long distances from as far away as Europe, fly into the area. The lake is a protected fish habitat reserve and is part of the Southern Moreton Bay Marine Park. In 1987 National Parks Minister Geoff Muntz and Works & Housing Minister Ivan Gibbs gave approval for the area to be gazetted as an Environmental Park, with the Gold Coast City Council agreeing to be the park’s trustee.
In 1988 Saltwater Creek (part of the Coombabah Wetland Reserve) was removed from the list of protected fish habitat areas due to the proposed development of Monterey Keys and Oyster Cove along the southern bank of the creek.
Aerial view over Coombabah Lake Conservation Park, circa 1970s. Photographer unknown
In 1994 the site was declared a conservation area by the Gold Coast City Council. To enable residents and visitors to explore the area and see the wildlife, recreational trails, boardwalks, interpretive shelters and parking facilities have been constructed. The Coombabah Lakelands Mangrove Boardwalk and Birdhide were completed in 1999 and in 2005, it was nominated for a Healthy Waterways Community Award.
Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area is the largest remaining example of its type on the Gold Coast.
Sources of information and further information
- Coombabah Lakeslands Conservation Area 1 – Zone (Projection Zone) Project Guidelines GCCC 3rd Draft, June 2004.
- “Creek off ‘green’ list for progress.” Gold Coast Bulletin, (Southport Qld.) 15 Sep 1999.
- “The rage in Lake Placid.” Gold Coast Bulletin, (Southport, Qld.) 29 Aug 2014.
- Gecko Echo. Gold Coast: Gold Coast & Hinterland Environment Council, Vol 10, No. 8, Aug 1999.
- Gold Coast Sun, (Southport, Qld.) 6 Apr 2005, p. 14.
- Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area Project Planning Report
- http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/coombabah-lakelands-brochure.pdf Accessed 5/1/2016
- http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands/report.pl?smode=DOIW&doiw_refcodelist=QLD194 Accessed 5/1/2016
- http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/08/28/2349487.htm Accessed 5/1/2016
