Our Local Area

Location

The Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre is uniquely located on Konomie Island, a National Park Island which is wholly situated within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. North Keppel Island is situated in the Keppel Island Group on the Capricorn Coast, Central Queensland. It is 12km from the mainland center of Yeppoon, and only 14km from the sheltered mainland boat harbor of Rosslyn Bay.

Konomie Island is approximately 627ha in area and is a dominant landscape feature of Keppel Bay. The island and it’s surrounding waters have exceptionally high amenity and natural values in terms of fringing coral reefs, attractive beaches, rugged headlands together with a variety of natural land systems. The following list provides you with a glimpse of the range of values of the island.

• Numerous fringing coral reefs
• 4 general marine environments
• Extensive grassland communities
• Eucalypt dominated open forests
• 9 individual beaches
• 2 major tidal creek areas
• Mangrove communities
• Low closed woodlands

Biosecurity

Konomie Island EEC is proud to be a ‘Be pest-free!’ partner with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). From boat cleaning to boot cleaning, the Centre staff are very keen to keep the island free from new pests (such as cane toads, mice and problem ants). The staff ask that all visiting Schools and volunteers play a part in island biosecurity. Visit Keppel Bay Islands National Park online and read more about this wonderful group of islands and why they are so special. Download, read and share with your class the Be pest-free brochure before your visit.

Be Pest-free!

Our precious Great Barrier Reef World Heritage islands are among the most pest-free islands in the world. They need your help to stay this way. Please Be pest-free!

Before you visit, please check that your boat, clothing, footwear and gear are free of soil, seeds, parts of plants, eggs, ants and insects (and their eggs), spiders, lizards, toads, rats and mice.

Be sure to:

• unpack your gear and equipment and check it carefully as pests love to hide in storage boxes and compartments
• pack your gear I plastic containers rather than cardboard boxes, as cardboard can harbour insect pests
• clean soil from footwear and gear as invisible killers such as viruses, bacteria and fungi are carried in soil
• check for seeds in pockets, cuffs and hook and loop fastening strips, such as Velcro.

While you are on the islands

Remove soil, weeds, seeds and pests from your boat, gear and clothes before moving to a new site. Wrap seeds and plant material, and place them in your rubbish.

Everyone in Queensland has a General Biosecurity Obligation to minimise the biosecurity risk posed by their activities. This includes the risk of introducing and spreading weeds and pests to island national parks.

See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

Before you visit

Please check that your boat, clothing, footwear and gear are free of soil, seeds, parts of plants, eggs, ants and insects (and their eggs), spiders, lizards, toads, rats and mice.

Be sure to:

• Unpack your gear and equipment and check it carefully as pests love to hide in storage boxes and compartments.
• Clean soil from footwear and gear as invisible killers such as viruses, bacteria and fungi are carried in soil.
• Check for seeds in pockets, cuffs and hook and loop fastening strips, such as Velcro.

While you are on the island

Remove soil, weeds, seeds and pests from your boat, gear and clothes before moving to a new site. Wrap seeds and plant material, and place them in your rubbish.

Everyone in Queensland has a General Biosecurity Obligation to minimise the biosecurity risk posed by their activities. This includes the risk of introducing and spreading weeds and pests to island national parks.

See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

Keppel Bay Islands

Konomie Island is the largest National Park island in the group of islands known as the Keppel Bay Islands. These islands are situated on the eastern coastline of Australia. Konomie Island is situated in the Keppel Bay Island Group on the Capricorn Coast, Central Queensland. The Keppel Bay Island group consists of 18 islands, the largest Island is Wapa Island (1454ha).

The twelve islands that have been declared National Parks in the Keppel Bay area are: