The Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) values the local community and its citizens, and seeks to positively contribute in various ways, including:

Community Involvement & Sponsorship

GAWB sponsors various activities throughout the year some of which include:

• EcoFest
• GAWB Seafood Festival

GAWB staff enjoy participating in several events during the year by providing displays, information and activities.

Who can apply for sponsorship?

GAWB's sponsorship efforts generally target programmes related to water and sustainability. If you are seeking sponsorship and feel that your cause falls within these boundaries, please write to the Gladstone Area Water Board with full details of your request.

School Talks and Tours

Water is a vital and increasingly important issue in the region. GAWB is mindful of the need to provide up-to-date information that will enable students to learn and grow and provide school tours with contact details as follows:

Water Treatment Plant School Tours
Gladstone Water Treatment Plant  - Phone: (07) 4979 1134

Lake Awoonga Recreation Area School Tours
Rangers at Lake Awoonga  - Phone: 0419 661 482

School Talks  -  GAWB office - phone: (07) 4976 3000
Email: gawb@gawb.qld.gov.au

Use of GAWB Marquee

GAWB owns a 10m x 6m marquee which it lends to charitable and non-profit community groups in the region. The marquee is ideal for shelter and shade, especially during the warmer months. It requires the assistance of 3-4 people to set it up.

Please contact GAWB's office on (07) 4976 3000 to check the availability of the marquee. A fully refundable $50 security deposit is required with the completed application form.

Click here for pdf copy of marquee application form

Stocking of Lake Awoonga with various fish species

The Gladstone Area Water Board (supported by the Central Queensland Ports Authority) operates a modern marine fish hatchery for the purpose of supplying fingerlings to restock Lake Awoonga. The aims of this project are threefold:

• to return fish species to the Boyne River which have been displaced by construction of the dam wall;
  
• to provide a high quality recreational fishery in the Gladstone region; and
  
• to encourage recreational use of the lake.

Stocking fish into the lake is bringing an increasing number of tourists and anglers to the region, which is of great benefit to businesses in the area. In addition, it is contributing to creating a positive image of the Gladstone area as a desirable tourist destination.

Please see the Hatchery section of this website for more information about stocking of the lake and the hatchery facility.

Provision of recreation facilities at Lake Awoonga

There are two recreation facilities at Lake Awoonga in Central Queensland: the main recreation area via Benaraby; and the Boynedale Bush Camp off Gladstone/Monto Road via Calliope.

Lake Awoonga Recreation Area

The main recreation area offers terrific facilities and is open to the public all year round. GAWB provides shelters, barbecues, walking paths, swings and other facilities to enable visitors to enjoy a restful day. Visitors can also book camping sites, cabins or caravans for longer stays at the Lake Awoonga Caravan Park.

In addition, the area offers visitors a great vantage point from which to view the local flora and fauna, and at Lake Awoonga, bird-watching enthusiasts can spot appraox 25% of Australia's bird species in the region. Lake Awoonga is arguably one of the most important near-coast bird refuges on the East Coast of Australia.

Boynedale Bush Camp

A basic facility, the Boynedale bush camp is provided free to the public for camping for up to seven days at a time. GAWB has established toilet facilities, some tables and chairs, shelters, fire-circles and rubbish bins along with an area for the launch of small watercraft (subject to water level). There is also a lookout nearby which provides great views of Lake Awoonga.

Please note that as there is no running water at Boynedale Bush Camp, campers must provide their own water and the roads are unsealed and may become boggy in wet weather.

Camping is only permitted in the Lake Awoonga Recreation Area and the Boynedale Bush Camp.