catchment mapMajor Towns: Maroochydore,   Nambour

Catchment Area: 643 km2

Major land Uses:

  • Native Vegetation – 24 648 Ha
  • Residential – 9680 Ha
  • Grazing –  10 617 Ha

The major landforms of the catchment are the steep mountain ranges that form the catchment boundaries, the steep, low hills that form the boundaries of the sub-catchments, the low lying floodplain that forms on the coastal plain towards the ocean, and the tidal estuary near the mouth.

The land uses of the Maroochy catchment are diverse. The original basically agrarian land use pattern has been overlain by a rapid increase in population and hence land utilized for residential area.

Located on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland, the Maroochy River drains an area of approximately 640 square kilometres of subtropical coastal plain. Bounded by the Blackall Ranges in the north and west, and the Mooloolah Range in the south, it flows into the South Pacific Ocean near the town of Maroochydore.

The catchment area extends 22km inland from the coast, with a north south distance of 35 km at the longest axis. The majority of the catchment is contained within the old Maroochy Shire area, with small parts in old Noosa Shire and the City of Caloundra.

Maroochy Catchment facing south-east overlooking Nambour

Eastern Maroochy Catchment facing south-east overlooking Nambour.

The Maroochy River divides into two arms at its tidal limit, with these being called the North and South Maroochy Rivers. Below the confluence of these lies the estuary, termed the Maroochy River. Five other subcatchments make up the drainage of the Maroochy river, these being:

  • Eudlo Creek
  • Paynter Creek
  • Petrie Creek
  • Coolum and Yandina Creeks
  • Stumer Creek