from orbit is the world's largest sand island The coastal parts of the region are centered on the city of
Maryborough. The inland is defined by a series of ranges which create the water of the
Burnett River. It is also Queensland's largest island, Australia's sixth largest island and the largest island on the
East Coast of Australia. The island has
rainforests,
eucalyptus woodland,
mangrove forests,
wallum and
peat swamps,
sand dunes and
coastal heaths. It is made up of sand that has been accumulating for approximately 750,000 years on volcanic bedrock that provides a natural catchment for the sediment which is carried on a strong offshore current northwards along the coast. K'gari is home to a small number of mammal species, as well as a diverse range of birds, reptiles and amphibians, including the occasional saltwater crocodile. The island is protected in the
Great Sandy National Park.
South Burnett The South Burnett is a peanut growing and wine-producing region on the western slopes of the
Great Dividing Range, north of the
Darling Downs. The
Bunya Mountains mark the southern boundary of the region. 12 km from Murgon is the
Bjelke-Petersen Dam. Other dams in the region include
Gordonbrook Dam and
Boondooma Dam.
Tarong Power Station and the
Tarong National Park are both in the south of the Burnett.
Cooloola The area is dominated by the Cooloola sandmass. Fraser Island belong to the same sandmass. It once extended 30 km to the east when sea levels were lower than today. Large vegetated
sand dunes have formed a varied terrain noted for its scientific importance. They contain the longest known
chronosequence of coastal dunes in the world, covering 730,000 years. The area was once part of the
Shire of Cooloola until 2008 when the
Gympie Region expanded. ==History==