Please call Meg 0412 439 063

The Committee would like to thank our Treasurer and Chatter Publisher Sandra Christiansen for all her hard work putting the Chatter out over the past 12 months,
unfortunately Sandy is unable to continue doing the Chatter, she has left a great legacy with the Chatter .

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The post Toogoom Chatter July 2026 first appeared on Toogoom and District Community Association.

The whiting race was razor-thin, but Rhys Wood edged out the pack with a 32cm specimen weighing 0.271 kg, just scraping past Gerry Hillier’s 0.268 kg catch.

While whiting was the target, variety ruled the scales. Gerry Hillier claimed ultimate bragging rights for the heaviest fish of the weekend, landing a spectacular 48cm winter Mangrove Jack that tipped the scales at 1.502 kg. Paul Castle dominated the flats with a cracking 56cm Flathead weighing 1.031 kg, while Dave Downie brought in the best of the bream with a thumping 35cm model weighing 0.631 kg.

The Toogoom Fishing Club is a fantastic social club dedicated to great fishing, community spirit, and good times. If you are interested in joining a welcoming crew of local anglers and pick up some tips on fishing local waterways, check out our website at www.toogoomfishingclub.com.au. Beyond the fun on the water, we are deeply proud of our community, having donated $4,000 to the local Toogoom community over the past 12 months.

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Activities:

Our group participated, along with several other local brigades, in a two-day hazard reduction burn near Tiaro to begin preparing for the Tiaro bypass. A combination of difficult terrain, heavy grass and gusty wind gave some challenges however despite this the planned burn was mostly completed. Also in attendance were two members of BNTAC who assisted prior to the burn by conducting a walkthrough to identify culturally significant items.

Training:

In addition to our brigade training days, once a month we have joint training with other brigades in the area. Burrum Heads, Nickenbah and East Booral brigades. Training covered assessing fuel load as part of overall bushfire risk assessment. This includes assessing the type of fuel in an area (leaf litter, grass, scrub, trees -size, type of bark) and amount and condition (light and widespread or heavy and densely packed, moisture content). These and many other factors are weighed up using a standard process to estimate bushfire risk. Training exercises cover the use of various PPE and basic skills in a fire ground situation including the added challenge of night conditions. For more information on volunteering with Toogoom Rural Fire Service contact,
1st Officer Tim McMahon on 0407 644 735

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The post Toogoom Chatter June 2026 first appeared on Toogoom and District Community Association.

We played mainly 60s and 70s era Classic Hits and Rock and Roll type music, which is fast moving, has a great beat and great melodies. We were enchanted to watch some of the responses from the crowd. It occurred to me that music is timeless. Even though we chose music from a by-gone era the rhythm and the beat was all that mattered to the audience! Thank you Amateur Fishing Club for the opportunity to provide some entertainment, we had a ball.

Anyone is welcome to come along to the Burrum Heads Community Hall any Sunday from just after 9am for a 9.30 start if you want to see and hear what we do.
Enquiries can be made to Glenda John on 0435597503 or Jenny Newman on 0407589722.

The post BHUG’s Newsletter May 2026 first appeared on Toogoom and District Community Association.

The post Toogoom Chatter May 2026 first appeared on Toogoom and District Community Association.

CRIBAFULLI GOVERNMENT DELIVERED THE TOOGOOM BOAT RAMP AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

• The Crisafulli Government opened the upgraded Toogoom boat ramp ahead of schedule and just in time for the busy Easter boating period.
• The upgraded facility delivers a widened two-lane ramp and a new central floating walkway, improving safety, access and ease of use for boaties.
• The ramp is now open and ready for use, demonstrating the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to delivering a fresh start for Maryborough.

The Toogoom upgrade is part of the Queensland Government’s targeted investment in marine infrastructure across the Great Sandy Marine Park and will allow locals and visitors the opportunity to enjoy safer, easier access to the Great Sandy Strait.

The improved two-lane facility features a new central floating walkway designed to make launching and retrieving vessels safer, easier and more efficient for all users, supporting the recreational boating that underpins the region’s tourism and coastal lifestyle.

Toogoom is one of four priority sites included in the regional marine infrastructure upgrade package, alongside Poona, Walkers Point, and dredging works at Gatakers Landing—projects that are restoring facilities after years of underinvestment and neglect by the former Labor Government.

LNP Member for Maryborough, John Barounis, said the Crisafulli Government delivering the project ahead of schedule was a strong result for the local community and visitors enjoying the Great Sandy Strait.

“For too long under Labor, regional boating infrastructure was overlooked, with locals left to put up with outdated and unsafe facilities,” Mr Barounis said.

“Our focus has been on fixing what Labor ignored—delivering practical upgrades that improve safety, usability and meet the expectations of the community, to deliver a better lifestyle through a stronger economy.

“The new central floating walkway will make launching and retrieving vessels safer and more efficient, particularly in variable tides, and it shows what can be achieved when regional Queensland is treated as a priority, not an afterthought.”

Mobile Offices

Regular Mobile Offices are held:

• 1st Saturday of the month – Howard Markets
• 4th Wednesday of the month – Eli Waters Shopping Centre

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The “Township” Vision: The core of the Council’s current strategy is the proposed introduction of a Township Zone (Precinct T1 – Coastal). Currently, Toogoom is largely managed under “Low Density Residential” zoning—a label designed for suburban environments like Hervey Bay, rather than coastal hamlets. The new Township Zone aims to formally recognize the unique character of Toogoom, allowing for more tailored development that balances housing needs with the village lifestyle.

What this means for residents:

• Housing Diversity: The new framework aims to support small-scale housing (like dual occupancies and triplexes) to help address the regional housing shortage, provided they fit the local scale.
• Development Scale: Proposed building heights are capped at 8.5 meters (2 storeys) to protect the coastal aesthetic and “small-town” feel.
• Infrastructure Balance: The Council acknowledges that Toogoom requires a different level of infrastructure support compared to urban centres.

Managing Growth & Natural Hazards: Growth projections for the Burrum Heads-Toogoom area suggest an increase of approximately 35 dwellings per annum through to 2046. To manage this safely, the Council’s Coastal Futures Strategy is now deeply integrated into planning decisions. Future development will be strictly guided by updated “Natural Hazard” overlays, specifically focusing on: Coastal Resilience (storm tide inundation and erosion risk) and, Climate Adaptation (resilience against sea-level rise and environmental exposure.)

Public Consultation: 2026: The Council is currently in the public consultation phase for Amendment Package 1 (open until 1 May 2026). This is the “rulebook” that will govern the next phase of Toogoom’s evolution. Residents are encouraged to review the proposed mapping and make submissions.

The 5–10 Year Outlook: Over the next decade, Toogoom is expected to transition from a largely static residential area to a more defined “Coastal Township.” Residents can anticipate: Clearer Planning Pathways (less ambiguity about what can be built), Infrastructure Prioritization (Council focus on cost-effective infrastructure that supports the existing community while managing modest, managed growth) Environmental Focus (Stricter planning requirements to prevent degrading the very natural features that make Toogoom desirable).

Possible Implications:

• Higher Density Housing. You could have a dual occupancies duplex or triplexes built next door to you, or on the other hand you could use excess land you own to create dual occupancy housing.
• Proposed Building Heights up to 8.5 metres may impact your streetscape, or could allow your residence to be raised and built-in underneath. This height limit is designed to protect the coastal aesthetic and “small-town” feel.
• Infrastructure. Or lack thereof. Council acknowledge that Toogoom requires a different level of infrastructure support compared to urban centres. This could be double-speak for not providing Toogoom with adequate support. If council is going for a “small-town” feel, that’s fine in theory but we have no “town centre” to speak of, a few shops near the boat ramp, and a few more shops at Jeppesen Street. No town centre = no town feel.

Have a chat. Understand what’s coming, or not coming. Phillip Heibloem April 2026.

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The post Toogoom Chatter April 2026 first appeared on Toogoom and District Community Association.