A tale of two islands: Coochiemudlo Island and Scotland Island
By Angela Hoskins
Why compare?
Humans love to compare things, for a better or worse assessment, sometimes just for interest.
People often compare themselves with others and the so-called ‘comparison trap’ can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, or feeling hard done by, or another type of personal struggle like anxiety — clearly not an optimum mindset for a relaxed and laidback life.
Comparisons can be advantageous. To help with decision making, humans often compare things. Humans measure how they/things/places stack up against others which can have potential benefits for how to proceed on an evolutionary level.
A comparison of Coochiemudlo and Scotland Islands reveals interesting similarities and differences in their locations, facilities, environmental attributes, and challenges.
Preamble (ramble) and context
A community Facebook Group comment sparked the idea of writing a two-island comparison.
Coochie Community Facebook Group provides insight into a range of opinions and attitudes of Coochiemudlo Island residents and group members. At the time of writing, the group has more on 5000 members — many more than the 800 or so residents on the island! So, comments and rants expressed within the FB Group can’t be interpreted as definitive of Coochiemudlo resident attitudes because not all the FB Group members are residents, and nor do all residents contribute to the discussion on Facebook. However, the FB Group is valued by many island residents and members as an effective platform for communication and to get helpful information.
This FB Group has also been used as a platform for complaints — about local government, rules and regulations, and more — with an undercurrent of sentiment that the island community is short changed when it comes to services and infrastructure. Many residents are attracted to island life to experience peace and tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of city or suburban life on the mainland. Reading many of the posts on the community’s Facebook group, it could be interpreted that some members consider — or expect — that island life should also come with more freedoms than those living on the mainland.
In September 2024, there was a post from a dog owner who was fined on the Morwong Beach foreshore, on the northern, quiet end of Coochiemudlo, because he had his dog off leash. Posts like this always result in a flurry of comments. Back in the day, people used to walk their dogs off leash everywhere. So, posts and comments regularly express concern that Coochiemudlo’s laidback lifestyle is being sacrificed because of the recent crackdown on policing dog off-leash rules and that Coochiemudlo Island is being unfairly targeted with the regular presence of animal management officers and their issuing of fines, a revenue raising exercise. Local government, Redland City Council (RCC), has been blamed. These fines are statewide, not restricted to the Redlands Coast – or Coochiemudlo Island.
One comment to the above mentioned post was a ‘mark my word’ prediction about why RCC is ‘targeting’ Coochiemudlo. It suggested that our local council could have intent on sacrificing our simple lifestyle for developers to get their hands on the place, changing the island for the worse. As an example, the island compared Coochiemudlo’s changing vibe — or perceived loss of freedom — with what happened, some years back, on St Hubert Island on the NSW Central Coast:
From Coochie Community Facebook Group, September 2024. (Transcript of comment below.)
‘Save this comment because to me this is history repeating itself. An hour out of Sydney is an Island, St Hubert’s Island. Much like Coochie it was popular for Sydney folk to have a holiday home there. Very similar in size and fast forward thirty years the local council (Gosford) began making changes to the island. The changes were so similar to what’s happening on Coochie right now it’s like going back in time. Those changes (we couldn’t see it back then) all lead to a bridge being built, changing the face of St Hubert’s beautiful simple lifestyle to a millionaires paradise (not for the residents at that time as they did not foresee the menace behind it). I’d like to take a guess and say that’s what RCC are up to. Dogs, ferry fares, parking, three of the things they targeted back in the 70s. 🙁’
There hasn’t been talk in the public arena about building a bridge to Coochiemudlo Island, probably because the cost of bridge infrastructure would outweigh any benefit to the island and region. Although Coochiemudlo’s roads are sealed, they aren’t in great condition. The speed limit on the island is 40km/per hour, primarily to protect the numerous bush stone-curlews that scramble across the roads, day and night, and some say traffic on the island should be even slower. Generally, the island’s infrastructure would struggle to cope with an increase of visitor numbers without a huge injection of resources. The island’s environment is sensitive. An increase of traffic on the island would be a huge negative on the island’s valued natural environment.
Nevertheless, the two-island comparison on Facebook is an interesting one and it does express the common fear that communities can have in the face of change and perceived progress. The Facebook comment also reminded me of a conversation with a real estate agent when I first visited Coochiemudlo in 2017. Two minutes into our conversation she said, ‘Coochiemudlo Island is Brisbane’s Scotland Island’. The agent was comparing Coochiemudlo with Scotland Island in Sydney’s Northern Beaches area. Marketing spin? I knew Scotland Island was an appealing place to live, desirable real estate in one of Sydney’s most sought-after areas.
Both these islands rely on water transport only, to and from the mainland. Both are in close proximity to state capital CBDs. Both have beautiful natural environments, each with a small community of residents, many who volunteer tireless work for island-based community organisations that contribute to maintaining and enriching the value their island’s environment and culture.
Coochiemudlo Island, northeast perspective, looking out to the mainland. The ferry terminal and boat moorings are on the other side of the island. Photo credit Sure Shot Film
Scotland Island, southwest perspective, looking out to the Pittwater Peninsula (the mainland) to the east. Royalty free image.
The two-island comparison shows interesting similarities — and significant differences
| Comparing | Coochiemudlo Island | Scotland Island |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from capital city | 40km (approx. from Brisbane) | 32km (approx. from Sydney) |
| Distance from airport | 60km (freeway access approx. 40 minutes) | 40km (approx. 40 minutes) |
| Bridge to island | No | No |
| Population* | 856 Male 47.7%; Female 52.3% |
711 Male 52.3%; Female 47.7% |
| Island size | 5 sq.km | .5 sq.km |
| Wharves/Boat ramps** | 1 ferry terminal; 1 barge/boat ramp; no private boat pontoon |
5x public wharves; pontoon for commuter boats (limited access) |
| Swimming beach | Three beaches on the south, east, north shorelines. | Small netted swimming enclosure, northern side, next to ferry wharf. |
| Dog off-leash park | No***** | No |
| Urban utilities | Mains water and sewerage; sealed roads | Rain water; septic tanks***; mainly unsealed roads |
| Shops/cafes | Cafe with basic supplies; bar; | None |
| Schools/Kindergarten | None | None |
| Community bus | Yes. Volunteer drivers. Funded by Coochiemudlo Progress Assoc. $2.50/trip (adult) |
Dual cab utility. $15/trip |
| Buggies allowed? | Currently on the Progress Assoc. wishlist. | No. Golf buggies and quad bikes no longer allowed.**** |
**Beach moorings and tie-ups at public wharves are considered illegal on both islands.
***Too much rock and clay prevents the installation of main sewerage.
****In August 2023, Transport NSW announced that they would not permit conditional registration of these vehicles.
*****There is one beach where a dog can be off-leash at certain times (seasonally).
Transport on and off the islands, and parking
Coochiemudlo Island: People arrive and depart via ferry or vehicle barge (as walk-on passengers), to/from Victoria Point. Vehicles arrive by barge. Most households have a car on the island plus a car mainland where limited parking presents perennial challenges for residents — especially on weekends and holiday periods. There is a gated permit-access carpark but it’s small, and it has a long waiting list of car owners who would like to access this facility. There’s no option to tie up a tinnie or private boat to a pontoon (for any extended period) at either Victoria Point or Coochiemdulo Island.
Scotland Island: People arrive and depart via ferry, water taxi, or private boat from Church Point Commuter Wharf. A vehicle barge departs from Church Point Cargo Wharf. On the island, four-wheel drives are recommended because of unsealed roads. The island is small and most residents opt to walk around the island, and keep privately owned cars at Church Point where limited permit parking is available. In 2018, a two-level carpark at Church Point was opened, providing spaces for 68 resident-owned vehicles and limited overnight parking for visitors on the lower level.
Island locations and shorelines
Coochiemudlo Island is in southern Moreton Bay, a marine park in Queensland. Ferry and barge access is from Victoria Point, on the Redlands Coast, south of Brisbane.
Scotland Island is in Pittwater, a sheltered open body of water that is sometimes considered a harbour or a bay. The north and east of Scotland Island looks over to Ku-ring-ai Chase National Park.
One significant difference between the two islands is their shorelines: on Scotland Island, freehold land or private property stretches to the shoreline with private pontoons and finger wharves fringing the island; Coochiemudlo Island has the Emerald Fringe around its shoreline, a green buffer of state land around the shoreline — no private property stretches to water line, no finger wharves or pontoons, only one state-owned ferry terminal on the south.
Shared environmental challenges
Both Coochiemudlo Island and Scotland Island are known for their beautiful, natural environment — waterlines and bushland — and both islands share some environmental challenges:
Invasive weed species plague both islands. Birds can spread seeds from exotic plants. Dumping garden waste that contains exotic plants often results in the noxious spreading of these plants, as invasive weeds.
Soil erosion on Scotland Island is chronic and because of poor drainage on the (mainly unsealed) roads. Coochiemudlo Island has a beach erosion issue on the north east of the island and Norfolk Beach.
Bird life on Scotland Island has altered as the population has increased — specifically the number of small native birds such as wrens, honey-eaters has declined — because of predators, human behaviour, and because larger bird species now dominating. On Coochiemudlo, the bush stone-curlew population has remained relatively consistent over recent years which is a good news story. The main bird life issue on Coochiemudlo is to do shorebirds. Because Moreton Bay is suitable habitat for migratory and residential shorebirds, island residents are often in dispute over opening up more stretches of beach for dog off-leash use.
Domestic animal management — and specifically invasive species management — is a problem for most Australian communities. Island species are highly susceptible to disruption by invasive species, such as feral cats and unruly, unleashed dogs that can stress, maim or kill wildlife. Companion animals on both islands are managed by state-wide Domestic Animal Acts that include area-specific rules and regulations. Not all pet owners abide by the rules. Challenges can arise within small, island communities when some pet owners, or visitors, do not comply with the rules.
Island-based volunteer community organisations
Volunteer organisations are the backbone of many small communities in Australia. They contribute expertise and time to providing services and solving problems, dealing with governance issues, maintaining cultural and environmental. What is evident from this two-island comparison is that each has a different model as their community organisation structure: Coochiemudlo Island has multiple incorporated not-for-profit organisations; Scotland Island has opted for a streamlined model with only one organisation.
Scotland Island
Scotland Island Residents Association (SIRA) was known as the Scotland Island Progress Association back in the 1950s. Much of the important work in SIRA is performed by subcommittees. Activities include advocacy for the island, creating solutions for problems, communicating with islanders, liaison with Council and other government bodies, cooperation with other offshore and onshore community organisations, management of services, and much more. In 2024, SIRA subcommittees include:
Communications — website; 2 x Facebook pages (including 4 Facebook moderators); monthly Pittwater Offshore Newsletter (PON); 2 x Facebook pages (SIRA and PON)
Finance and Insurance — maintains SIRA accounts, profit and loss reports, budgets and financial statements, processes payments, and advises SIRAC on financial and insurance matters
Halls/ Recreation Club — encourages and promotes activities to engage and entertain community residents of all ages.
Roads, Drainage and Environment — monitors the conditions of roads, drainage and environment and liaises with Council to advocate for improvements including maintenance surveys, designs, managing weed growth.
Transport — created to find ways to make access to and around the island, either by public or personal transport, easier for all residents.
Waste and Wastewater — works to improve access to water and wastewater management for all islanders.
Wharves and Watercraft — liaises with Council to improve amenities and access to the public wharves on the island.
SIRA manages the Scotland Island Community Website that offers a wealth of historical and geneneral information about Scotland Island.
Coochiemudlo Island
Numerous volunteer-run incorporated organisations focus on different aspects of the island and community. Each of these organisations have both a website and Facebook page:
Coochiemudlo Island Progress Association — regular projects include markets, assistance with medical aids, and the community bus.
Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare — environmental work, with a special focus on invasive weed management on the eastern shoreline and erosion management
Coochiemudlo Island Heritage Society — focuses on the Emerald Fringe, cultural event organising including the annual Matthew Flinders Day, plus island archives and museum
Coochiemudlo Island Recreation Club — recreational activities including a gym, various recreational clubs, the monthly op shop.
This website, Life on Coochiemudlo Island, is managed on a volunteer basis by an island resident, the author of this article. This site is external to the various community organisations listed above and aims to maintain linkages with each community organisation.
Acknowledgements and thanks to …
Robyn Ireland, SIRA president from 2022—2024
Roy Baker, editor and writer for the Pittwater Offshore Newsletter
Peter Wear, writer, Coochiemudlo Island resident
References
Scotland Island 2021 Census QuickStats
Coochiemudlo Island 2021 Census QuickStats
Scotland Island Community Website
New Carpark at Church Point Gives Priority to Local Residents — Pittwater Online News
