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June 21, 2017
FREE
Family Festival Fun
COOROY’S Lake Macdonald and the Noosa Botanic Gardens provide a stunning backdrop for the Noosa Festival of Water from 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday 25th June 2017 and there really is something for everyone to enjoy. The calm waters of Lake Macdonald are the perfect place to teach kids how to fish, kayak and standup paddleboard so throw in the boardies and a towel. Children and their parents can also learn about the local environment in the Creative Kids marquee with Seqwater, Unitywater and local artists running activities focussed on caring for the land and water of the Noosa Biosphere. For keen anglers, there’s a catch and release Bass fishing competition at Mary River Cod Park where young and old will use all their skills to land a big one with some great prizes of fishing gear for the winners. The Festival offers a rare opportunity to visit the Gerry Cook Hatchery and learn about the important work being undertaken to restore wild populations of the Mary River cod, one of Australia’s most endangered freshwater fish which was once a top order predator in the Six Mile Creek system and the Mary River Catchment. Throughout the day, a free boat trip will take people across the Lake from the Botanic Gardens to Mary River Cod Park hatchery and back. The magnificent Grecian style Amphitheatre will showcase a swag of fantastic local entertainment throughout the day, featuring Lyndon Davis and the Gubbi Gubbi Dancers, Andrea Kirwin, the incredible musical talent of Phenix, the Moonsets, up and coming artists from Gympie’s Australian Institute of Country Music and Festival favourite Geckoes Wildlife’s Martin Fingland with his collection of furry, feathered and slithery native wildlife. This year’s Amphitheatre program will also feature the launch of the Boomerang Alliance Plastic Free Noosa Campaign. Noosa Landcare will be giving out two free trees to Noosa residents with a current rate notice, the
Mary River Catchment Committee (MRCCC) are offering free water testing for residents wanting their creek, dam or bore water sample tested and the Noosa Community Biosphere group will be offering heavily discounted stainless steel water bottles which can be filled at Unitywater’s Back to Tap refill station at the Festival, reinforcing the Festival’s move away from the sale of plastic water bottles. As well as Snake and Reptile shows throughout the day, there will be a diverse offering of community groups providing information and displays, along with kids face painting, a jumping castle and a selection of food and drink vendors. A courtesy bus will operate on the day to bring people to the Festival from the parking areas along Lake Macdonald Drive. Pick up a copy of the Festival program and lodge your feedback form at the Festival to be in the running for a fantastic accommodation package at Peppers Resort Noosa, courtesy of Tourism Noosa. The MRCCC hosts this free annual event with support from Noosa Council, Seqwater, Unitywater, the Cooroy Community Branch of the Bendigo Bank, Hooked on Angling and Outdoors in Tewantin and the Burnett Mary Regional Group. Our aim is to help locals and visitors to our region learn about how to protect and care for the unique ecological and environmental attributes which help to make Noosa such a special place to live. The Festival is also supported by Noosa Landcare, the staff at the Noosa Botanic Gardens and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to caring for our natural environment. To register for the Fishing Competition or for more information about the Noosa Festival of Water, check out the Facebook page, visit the website at www.noosafestivalofwater.org or call the MRCCC on 07 5482 4766.