Fitzroy Basin Association > Our Region > Significant places > Southern Great Barrier Reef

Southern Great Barrier Reef

The Fitzroy Region adjoins the southern section of one of Australia’s most iconic features – the Great Barrier Reef.

Stretching 2,300km along Queensland’s coast, the GBR is the biggest coral reef system on planet earth – so big it’s seen from outer space. Its size, spectacular beauty, incredible biodiversity and the fact it records millions of years of earth’s history, is why the GBR is important to all people and listed and protected as a World Heritage Area.

The Fitzroy Basin (part of the Fitzroy Region) is the largest catchment draining into the GBR and also the largest river system draining Australia’s east coast. What makes its way down our drains, creeks and rivers reaches the GBR lagoon, making everything we do in our region critical to protecting the southern GBR.

The Keppel Islands and their surrounding inshore reefs are some of the most accessible parts of the GBR and found just off Capricorn Coast. The area is valued for its scenic amenity and the tourism and fishing industries it supports.

FBA works with universities, government departments, local councils, volunteer groups and landholders to implement sustainable practices that protect our southern GBR as well as help protect the GBR as a whole.