Marcoola
Queensland
Marcoola Beach
Marcoola is located in Queensland
Marcoola
Marcoola
Coordinates26°35′00″S 153°05′44″E / 26.5833°S 153.0955°E / -26.5833; 153.0955 (Marcoola (town centre))
Population3,173 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density231.6/km2 (599.9/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4564
Area13.7 km2 (5.3 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)Fairfax
Suburbs around Marcoola:
Maroochy River Mount Coolum Coral Sea
Bli Bli Marcoola Coral Sea
Bli Bli Pacific Paradise Mudjimba

Marcoola is a coastal town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2016 census, the locality of Marcoola had a population of 3,173 people.[1]

Geography

Marcoola includes part of the pristine Mount Coolum National Park, borders with the Maroochy River and is part of the Maroochy River Catchment Area[4] and includes urban developments of Town of Seaside and Mount Coolum Shores.

Sunshine Coast Airport is located within the suburban boundary of Marcoola.

History

The name Marcoola was a coined name and reflects its location between Maroochydore and CooLum.[2]

In March 2009 a ship called, MV Pacific Adventurer, spilled 270 tonnes of oil off the coast of Brisbane causing damage to the Marcoola coastline among other areas and costing the state millions of dollars.[5]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Marcoola had a population of 3,173 people, of which 50.4% were male and 49.6% were female. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 2.6% of the population.[1] In the 2021 census, the population rose to 3,355 with a fairly balanced gender distribution of 50.6% male and 49.4% female, and a median age of 45. Additionally, 2.9% of the population identified as Indigenous.[6]

Environment

Many species persist in this region, including flora such as paperbark open forest and woodland, Banksia aemula (Wallum Banksia) woodland, and open heathland.[7] There is also a population of the endangered Mount Emu she-oak.[8]

The region provides essential habitat for Ground Parrots which are regularly recorded and it is believed a subpopulation between 15 and 19 birds exists in Marcoola, making this the largest subpopulation within the Sunshine Coast and consequently important for the species persistence.[9] Many other popular bird species have also been recorded in the area in recent years.[10]

Ecosystem services in the region contribute to improved water quality of the Maroochy River by removing nutrient loads, retaining floodwaters and maintaining local flows before flowing directly into the sea. Other benefits include the high value to wildlife and by providing habitat refuge. The area also provides critical habitat for species which rely on the area for breeding and feeding (such as acid frogs, the 'vulnerable' wallum froglet, wallum sedge frog, wallum rocketfrog).[11]

Marcoola coastal region is part of the Australian Commonwealth's, Temperate East Marine Region, and consists of several 'nationally important wetlands' and 'protected area' locations.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Marcoola (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Marcoola – town in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 20926)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  3. "Marcoola – locality in Sunshine Coast Region (entry 48744)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  4. "Maroochy River Catchment". Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  5. Meissner, Katie (2 September 2012). "Environmental disaster meets state politics". Australian Journal of Communication. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  6. "2021 Marcoola, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". abs.gov.au. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  7. "Chapter B7 Terrestrial Flora – Airport and Surrounds Terrestrial Flora, Sunshine Coast Airport Environmental Impact Statement" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  8. Mount Coolum National Park – resource information 2019 Archived 22 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine QLD Department of Environment and Science, accessed: 20 September 2020
  9. Chapter B8 Terrestrial Fauna – Airport and Surrounds Terrestrial Fauna Archived 16 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine Sunshine Coast Airport Environmental Impact Statement, accessed: 21 September 2018
  10. Marcoola Beach Checklist Archived 22 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine eBird Australia website, accessed:16 January 2019
  11. Mount Coolum National Park – resource information 2019 Archived 22 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine QLD Department of Environment and Science, accessed: 20 September 2020
  12. Protected Matters Search Tool Archived 8 May 2018 at the Wayback MachineDepartment of the Environment and Energy website, published: 28 May 2015, accessed: 21 September 2018
  • "Marcoola". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
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