Inspired by FINIA, another environmental alliance has formed and grown in impact and size in the Gympie Region.

GREAT (Gympie Region Environmental Advocacy Team) is a  collaborative, unincorporated association of environmental organizations operating within the Gympie Regional Council area. GREAT’s primary role is to provide opportunities for connection and collaboration between the diverse range of environmental groups in the region, to promote a cohesive approach to the protection and regeneration of the regional environment, and to maximize the impact of the advocacy of its members with local, State and Federal agencies.

It includes representatives of Gympie’s most active environment groups, namely:

• Gympie & District Landcare
• Cooloola Coastcare
• Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC)
• Koala Action Gympie Region (KAGR)
• Australian Native Animals Rescue and Rehabilitation Association (ANARRA)
• Gympie & District Field Naturalists
• Gympie and District Sustainability Alliance (GADSA)
• Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council (WBBEC)

Collectively, these groups unite thousands of Gympie region residents to contribute to the environmental action, education, and advocacy in the Gympie Regional Council region and beyond.  The impetus for the creation of the GREAT started with the current Gympie Council removal of the Environment Levy, removing embargoed funding for the environment.

Since forming in 2021, the group has been meeting twice per year addressing issues relevant to the groups. The group has recently increased meetings from twice per year to quarterly as members value to collaboration and sharing of their expertise, systems, policies, and procedures as well as their collaborative actions for the GREATer good of all the groups.

Contact for GREAT is greatconsortium1@gmail.com  

Article contributed by Lindy Orwin, President, Cooloola Coastcare