Agnes Water & 1770 - Whats On In Aggie

16/06/2026

Community Update

Back in March, we wrote to Gladstone Regional Council seeking information about the future of the Cultural Immersions Festival and how Council intended to uphold its October 2025 resolution protecting the Rainbow Bee-eater nesting area during the breeding season.

Council responded in April, advising that discussions with event organisers were continuing and confirming its commitment to ensuring the exclusion period would be respected. However, no further information has been provided to the community since then.

Given the strong community support for both protecting this important habitat and ensuring the ongoing success of the festival in an appropriate location or timeframe, and given the festival date is fast approaching, I believe it is important that the community remains informed.

Today, I have sent the following email to Council (referencing CSR 806256) requesting an update on the status of discussions and asking that the community be kept informed as decisions are made.

Transparency and open communication are essential to maintaining community confidence and avoiding unnecessary speculation. I will continue to share any information received with the community.

———————————————————————————-

Dear Gladstone Regional Council,

I write to seek an update regarding Council’s ongoing discussions with organisers of the Cultural Immersions Festival in relation to the protection of the Rainbow Bee-eater nesting area.

This matter was previously raised with Council under CSR 806256. In its response of April 2026, Council advised that it was liaising with organisers who held bookings during the protected period to identify suitable alternative locations or revised timeframes, and confirmed that no final arrangements had yet been reached. Council also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the booking exclusion period would be clearly understood, consistently applied, and fully respected.

As several months have now elapsed since that response, I am writing to enquire whether there has been any further progress and whether Council is now in a position to provide an update to the community.

In particular, I would appreciate any information Council can provide regarding:

• The current status of discussions with festival organisers;

• Whether alternative dates or venues are being actively considered;

• Whether any decisions have been made, or when a final decision is expected.

I note that Council’s previous correspondence did not indicate whether the community would be kept informed as these discussions progressed. Given the considerable public interest in this matter, I believe ongoing transparency is important to maintaining community confidence and avoiding unnecessary speculation.

There is strong community support for both the protection of the Rainbow Bee-eater breeding habitat and the continuation of the Cultural Immersions Festival, provided it proceeds in a manner that is fully consistent with Council’s resolution and the established exclusion period.

I would therefore appreciate any update Council is able to provide and ask that the community be kept informed as decisions are made.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,

Wayne

16/06/2026

Could An Agnes Water Or 1770 Tourism Venture Be Part of Queensland’s 45 by 45 Ecotourism Vision?

Known as the “45 by 45” initiative, the program is part of the State Government’s Destination 2045 strategy and is designed to showcase the very best of Queensland through sustainable, nature-based tourism.

So far, eight projects have been announced across the Whitsundays, Tropical North Queensland, Townsville and the Gold Coast. That means there are still 37 projects yet to be identified.

Why not Agnes Water and 1770?

When people hear the word “project”, many assume it means something brand new and backed by millions of dollars. But looking at the projects already announced, that’s not necessarily the case.

Some are new developments, while others are improvements to existing attractions or the introduction of new experiences at places people already visit.

That’s important because it means existing tourism operators may already have something that fits the vision.

Whether it’s accommodation, tours, wellness experiences, camping, glamping, nature-based activities or something completely different, there could be opportunities for both existing businesses and new ideas.

The common thread is sustainability, protecting the environment and creating memorable experiences that encourage people to spend more time exploring regional Queensland.

And let’s be honest, Agnes Water and 1770 already have a lot going for them.

We’re home to the Southern Great Barrier Reef. We have incredible beaches, national parks, wildlife and some of the most beautiful natural surroundings anywhere in Queensland.

Those are exactly the sorts of assets that ecotourism is built around.

Ecotourism offers small communities like ours a different path. Rather than chasing high-volume, mass-market tourism that can overwhelm local infrastructure, annoy local communities and erode the very character that makes a place special, ecotourism focuses on quality experiences, longer stays and a genuine connection with the environment and community.

It encourages visitors to appreciate and help protect natural assets, supports local businesses, creates sustainable jobs and helps preserve the unique identity of a region. In a world where many destinations are becoming increasingly commercialised and indistinguishable, like Noosa and Byron, ecotourism allows places like Agnes Water & 1770 to grow in a way that strengthens what makes them special, rather than sacrificing it.

With 37 projects still to come, perhaps now is the time for local operators, landowners and investors to start thinking about what our region could offer.

Could an existing business be expanded?

Could several operators work together to create something unique?

Could a new idea become the next recognised ecotourism project?

No one is suggesting Agnes Water and 1770 should sit back and wait to be discovered.

But with so much attention being placed on ecotourism over the next two decades, now might be the perfect time for our region to put its hand up.

After all, if Queensland is looking for world-class nature-based experiences, you’d have to think Agnes Water and 1770 deserve to be part of the conversation.

Expressions of Interest for the current intake close on 9 August 2026, making now the ideal time for local operators, landowners, investors and community organisations in Agnes Water and 1770 to start exploring what role our region could play in Queensland’s ecotourism future.

Further enquiries can also be directed to [email protected].

16/06/2026

AGNES STREET CAR PARK

There’s been some talk around town that the new Agnes Water car park will be introducing paid parking. That’s not the case.

The confusion may stem from the fact that the car park will have a boom gate. However, the boom gate was a condition of approval imposed by the court during the dispute over the car park’s design and size.

The primary purpose of the boom gate is to prevent illegal camping. It will be closed overnight and reopened each morning.

Gladstone Regional Council has not yet released an operational plan, so the exact opening and closing times are not yet known. As soon as those details become available, we’ll make sure to keep the community informed.

Please feel free to share this information to help clear up any misunderstandings.

15/06/2026

🔥🌙 Winter Solstice Festival at The Creek THIS SATURDAY! 🌙🔥

As the longest night of the year arrives, Captain Creek will come alive with music, colour, creativity and the warmth of community.

Gather around the fire, wander through the market stalls, enjoy incredible local talent and experience an evening where old friends meet, new memories are made, and the winter sky becomes the backdrop for something truly special.

✨ Expect an afternoon and evening filled with:
🎶 Live entertainment and local performers
🛍 Handmade treasures and market stalls
🎨 Creative displays and artistic surprises
🏮 Lantern making and family fun
💃 A dazzling cabaret performance
🔥 An unforgettable fire dancing finale
🏕 Free camping for those wanting to stay the night

Bring your picnic rug, your dancing shoes and your sense of adventure. Whether you come for the music, the atmosphere, the food or simply to share in the spirit of community, this is a celebration not to be missed.

📍 The Creek – 111 Murphy Road, Captain Creek
🗓 Saturday 20 June
⏰ From 2pm until late

Wrap up warm, gather your favourite people and celebrate the turning of the season with an evening of laughter, lights and fireside memories.

Winter Solstice Festival at The Creek — where community shines brightest on the darkest night. ✨🌙❤️

15/06/2026

Bull Sharks Part of Life Around Agnes & 1770 as Debate Grows Over Population Controls

Recent ABC reports have highlighted concerns from recreational fishers and boaties who believe bull sharks are becoming much more common throughout Queensland’s waterways. Some have called for relaxed fishing regulations and even culls, while scientists and conservation groups are urging caution and advocating for an evidence-based approach.

Many locals would agree that sharks are nothing new around here. Bull sharks are known to inhabit the waters around Round Hill Creek, Bustard Bay and the maze of tidal creeks that run through Eurimbula National Park.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife also confirm sharks are in the park’s creek systems and also in Round Hill Creek, something many fishermen, campers and boaties have known for years.

Agnes Water region was in the news in late 2023 after a serious shark bite near the headland at 1770. Around the same time, footage captured near Agnes Water showed multiple sharks swimming close to shore, adding to local concerns.

Agnes was part of the DPI Smart Drone Shark Monitoring trial a while back and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), in partnership with Surf Life Saving Queensland, has expanded aerial shark surveillance to include Agnes Water Main Beach beginning later this year. The program uses drones to monitor waters in real time, providing an additional layer of safety for swimmers, surfers and other water users.

While many residents believe shark numbers are increasing, scientists say obtaining accurate population data for bull sharks is difficult. These highly mobile predators move over large distances and can be found in rivers, estuaries and coastal waters throughout Queensland.

Experts also caution against assuming that more sightings necessarily mean there are more sharks. Increased use of drones, social media and underwater cameras means encounters are more likely to be recorded and shared than ever before.

Current Queensland regulations allow anglers to keep one bull shark a day, provided it is less than 1.5 metres long. Some people are calling for those rules to be relaxed, but researchers point out that larger sharks often contain elevated levels of mercury and are generally not considered desirable eating.

Others argue that bull sharks play an important role as apex predators and that large-scale culls could have unintended impacts on marine ecosystems.

For communities like ours, where fishing, boating and water sports are part of everyday life, finding the balance between public safety and protecting the marine environment can be challenging.

What most people agree on is that bull sharks are part of the natural environment in our region. Whether numbers are increasing or not, understanding their behaviour and learning how to safely share the waterways may ultimately be more effective than trying to remove them altogether.

Source: ABC

15/06/2026

Okay, I’m fully aware I may be approaching peak sunrise photo territory 😂, but this morning’s colours were too good not to share. I promise to ease up for a few days 😁

14/06/2026

For anyone interested in the idea that Australians should receive a fairer return from our gas resources, the Australia Institute has put together some information and a petition here:

https://gas-plebiscite.australiainstitute.org.au/

If you think it’s worth supporting, feel free to sign. If it’s not something you’re interested in, please just scroll past and ignore.

No pressure either way, I thought some locals might like to know about it.

Wayne

14/06/2026

🏝️ Ever dreamed of living on a Great Barrier Reef island?

Well, this could be the experience of a lifetime. The Reef Authority and Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service are looking for caretakers to live and work on beautiful Low Island, just 15km off Port Douglas.

This isn’t a holiday job, it’s a hands-on role involving grounds management, maintaining off-grid systems, educating visitors and helping protect one of the world’s most remarkable places. It will suit practical, resourceful people who are comfortable with remote tropical living.

The tender is now open for businesses to apply.

If anyone in the Aggie region has ever wanted to swap the daily grind for life on a tropical island while helping care for the Great Barrier Reef, opportunities like this don’t come along very often.

What an incredible experience this would be. 🌴🐢☀️

More information, tender details and FAQs can be found here:
👉 www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/low-isles-caretaker-services-tender

14/06/2026