| Boardwalks
- QLD, Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area |
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Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area is a Gold Coast City Council
reserve. The area is part of the Kombumerri traditional lands.
And, 'Coombabah' is an aboriginal word meaning home of turtles,
or a pocket of land (Steele, J.G., Aboriginal Pathways in Southeast
Queensland and the Richmond River, p63; Hanlon, W.E., The Early
Settlers of the Logan and Albert Districts). The reserve is also
part of Moreton Bay Marine Park, and Coombabah Fish Habitat Area
(FHA) – declared in 1983. The FHA provides a tidal wetlands
buffer zone from residential development and associated run-off
into the Jumpinpin-Broadwater Fish Habitat Area, and protects
remaining undisturbed habitat in the area.
The boardwalk and bird hide are an initiative of the Coombabah
Catchment Management Group (CCMG) in partnership with Gold Coast
City Council with funding assistance from Coastcare and Wetland
Care Australia through the Natural Heritage Trust (funded in 2000
– 2001). Along the walk, there is excellent signage providing
thoughtful educational information regards the flora and fauna
observed. It also nicely displays the transition zone from terrestrial
to mangrove habitat. From the boardwalk, visitors can see across
to the Coombabah Lake’s western shore, undeveloped Gold
Coast mangrove fringe and lake habitat. The bird watching is considered
excellent.
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| Coombabah Lakelands Conservation
Area |
Google Earth: 27°54’40.14 S; 153°21’09.92
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Location Details
Distance/length: 500 m.
Location: Shelter Road, off Brisbane Road, Coombabah, Gold Coast.
Walking Time: 45 min. stroll. Address: as above.
Directions: Take Exit 62 off the Pacific Mwy, travel east along
Gold Coast Highway for approx. 3km, turn left at Shelter Road.
Enter through gates, travel approx 1 km along Shelter Road. Bear
left at Lakelands Reserve carpark.
There are six normal carpark spaces with another wheelchair carpark.
Contact: For more information phone the Gold Coast City Council
(GCCC) Catchment Management Group, Ph (07) 5581 6709 or (07) 5581
6722.
Boardwalk gates open 7 days a week: Mon – Fri 6.15am –
6pm; Sat 7.45am – 4.15pm; Sun 9.45am – 2.15pm.
Website: www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=7039
Facilities
| PLANTS AND ANIMALS
YOU MIGHT SEE
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Mangroves
Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina)
Stilt Mangrove (Rhizophora stylosa)
River Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum)
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Saltmarsh
Saltcouch (Sporobolus virginicus)
Beadweed (Sarcocornia quinqueflora)
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General Vegetation
She or Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) |
Birds
great egret, ibis, spoonbill, whistling kite
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| Invertebrates in the mud
Crabs (grapsids)
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Invertebrates in the vegetation
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Rare/ Endangered Biota
Some migratory and JAMBA / CAMBA listed wader birds; jabiru,
eastern curlew, red capped plover, bar tailed godwit.
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Waterlife
Gobies
Ruppia (Brackish Seagrass)
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Contributors
Rebecca Batton (Fowler) and Mathew Johnston, Queensland Department
Primary Industry & Fisheries (31 May 2006)
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