Heather Wood is the owner of Coolaroogh, a property located in Coolabine, approximately 40km west of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Heather’s primary goal is to restore the land to its natural state as much as possible, to provide habitats and a sanctuary for native animals. Heather is also developing a management plan for the property, while already undertaking re-vegetation in riparian areas. The sanctuary is registered under a Queensland Government Land for Wildlife Agreement.
The sanctuary covers approximately 60 hectares of bushland with remaining areas cleared. Habitat types are diverse and include eucalypt open forest, rainforest, simple rainforest and blackbutt tall open forest. The sanctuary is part of a larger habitat areas linking Mapleton State Forest through to the Conondale Ranges, and is categorised as a part of “core” vegetation (Blackall Range) under the Maroochy Shire Council Biodiversity Strategy.
There is a waterfall and creek that runs through the center of the sanctuary with a permanent waterhole, side gullies and natural springs. The creek on the property is a tributary to Coolabine Creek. Wildlife present includes red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), lace monitors (Varanus varius), brush turkeys (Alectura lathami), native mice and rats, a wide variety of birds and many invertebrate, amphibian and reptile species.
