Pumicestone Channel

The channel was originally shown as Pumice-stone River on the maps of Matthew Flinders as he found an abundance of pumice stone lining the shoreline. He was the first European explorer to enter Moreton Bay in 1799 on the Sloop H. M. 'Norfolk' and spent two weeks exploring the bay and surrounds and naming Point Skirmish and Pumice-stone River.

{{Cite web |url=http://www.rag.org.au/wmhs/facts.htm |title=The Matthew Flinders Bicentenary Association |access-date=14 January 2008 |archive-date=17 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117005015/http://www.rag.org.au/wmhs/facts.htm |url-status=live }}

In January 2022, large waves caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth caused a breakthrough on Bribie Island, severing the island into two parts.{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Steele |date=27 July 2023 |title=Locals hold concerns over future of water quality in passage as testing continues |url=https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2023/07/27/growing-concerns-over-water-quality-in-passage-testing-continues/ |work=Sunshine Coast News |access-date=29 July 2023}} The main channel for Pumicestone Passage moved south to the inflow.{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Steele |date=5 February 2023 |title=In Photos: See how the Bribie breakthrough has impacted its surrounds in 12 months |url=https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2023/02/05/in-photos-how-passage-has-changed-in-one-year/ |work=Sunshine Coast News |access-date=29 July 2023}} Since then the Caloundra Bar has become filled with sand. The changes have raised concerns with water quality at the northern end of the passage as a result of the reduced tidal exchange. Since 2023, the Queensland Department of Environment and Science has intensified its water quality monitoring in this area. Monitoring at the five northernmost sites in Pumicestone Passage has been increased to a monthly schedule, and an additional monitoring site has been set up within the new bar opening. The monitoring now includes the measurement of Enterococci bacteria levels as part of the regular monthly water quality checks.{{Cite journal |last=Wood |first=Peter |last2=Voisey |first2=Chris |last3=Sultmann |first3=Sel |last4=Teakle |first4=Ian |last5=Waterhouse |first5=Alex |last6=Wishaw |first6=Daniel |date=August 2023 |title=Bribie Island Breakthrough – A Dynamic Coastal System |url=https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/325792/pumicestone-passage-bribie-is-breakthrough-coastal-process-water-quality-oct2023.pdf |journal=Australasian Coasts & Ports 2023 Conference}}

{{Update|section|date=December 2017}}

Gazetted in 1986, Pumicestone Passage Marine Park (now part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park), extends from the southern entrance at the towns of Bribie Island and Sandstone Point, north to the Caloundra bar. It is just over 35 kilometres long and has a surface area of 63 km². The town of Bribie Island comprises suburbs of Bongaree, Woorim, Bellara, Banksia Beach and White Patch. Bribie Island is reached by a Bridge of 800 meter length over the Pumicestone Passage. The marine park has 24 islands and is bounded by 240 kilometres of shoreline. Eighty percent of the channel is less than two metres deep and dugongs frequent its waters seasonally to feed on the seagrass on the bottom of the channel. Dolphins and turtles also make the channel home as do over 350 species of birds. Habitats within and adjoining the channel include mangroves and saltmarshes, sand flats and mud flats, coastal dunes and seagrass meadows.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wheretostay.net/article.htm?qa=aubribe2 |title=Bridie Island Tourist Information |access-date=14 January 2008 |archive-date=14 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914022810/http://www.wheretostay.net/article.htm?qa=aubribe2 |url-status=live }}[http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/enviro/flinders/f-p-qgm.htm Victoria Education website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117204809/http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/enviro/flinders/f-p-qgm.htm |date=2007-11-17 }}

[http://www.queensland100.com/top%2040%20things-to-do-queensland.htm Queensland things to do website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009023830/http://www.queensland100.com/top%2040%20things-to-do-queensland.htm |date=2007-10-09 }} The channel forms part of the Moreton Bay and Pumicestone Passage Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because it supports large numbers of migratory waders, or shorebirds.{{cite web |url=http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |title=IBA: Moreton Bay and Pumicestone Passage |accessdate=2011-08-17 |work=Birdata |first= |last= |publisher=Birds Australia |date= |archive-date=6 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102341/http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm |url-status=live }}

{{Portal|Queensland}}

• Donnybrook
• Deception Bay

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{{Commons category-inline|Pumicestone Passage, Queensland}}

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Category:Important Bird Areas of Queensland

Category:Channels of Australia

Category:Moreton Bay

Category:Caloundra