Miles Government further expands protected areas

• The Miles Government has officially established two new national parks, a new conservation park and Queensland’s second special wildlife reserve.
• A further 18,600 hectares has been added to existing national parks and conservation parks.
• Since 2015, close to 2 million hectares of land has been added to Queensland's protected area estate, protecting it in perpetuity.

The Miles Government has officially established Queensland’s two newest national parks as well as the state’s second special wildlife reserve and a new conservation park.

Around 10,300 hectares of land has been officially dedicated as the new Redcliffe Tableland National Park, approximately 114 kilometres west of Mackay. The new national park contains endangered and of-concern regional ecosystems and is an important habitat for the endangered northern quoll, vulnerable squatter pigeon and other woodland species.

Around 6,400 hectares of Squirrel Creek State Forest, 110 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, has been officially dedicated as Squirrel Creek National Park. The area contains endangered and of-concern regional ecosystems and riverine wetlands, which provide important habitat for vulnerable species including the plumed frogmouth and black-breasted buttonquail.

Around 8,000 hectares of land 140 kilometres north-east of Longreach has been dedicated as the new Edgbaston Special Wildlife Reserve, Queensland’s second special wildlife reserve. The dedication of the Edgbaston Special Wildlife Reserve has been achieved in partnership with Bush Heritage Australia (BHA) to safeguard the key Lake Eyre Basin property. The Edgbaston artesian spring complex is the most ecologically diverse of its type in Australia, containing a high diversity of endemic and non-endemic species with several listed as threatened under legislation.

Close to 300 hectares of Delaneys Creek State Forest, approximately 53 kilometres north of Brisbane, has been dedicated as the new Delaneys Creek Conservation Park. The new conservation park forms part of a bioregional corridor that contains habitat for unique flora and fauna including the hairy hazelwood and Richmond birdwing butterfly.

A further 18,600 hectares has also been added to existing national parks and conservation parks. The majority of this land is being dedicated as part of a Miles Government commitment to transfer 20,000 hectares of state forest to the protected areas estate under the Native Timber Action Plan. These latest dedications bring the total area of state forest added to the protected areas estate under the plan to just over 13,000ha.

Quotes attributable the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard:

“The Miles Government is doing what matters by protecting areas of high environmental and cultural value across Queensland in perpetuity.

“Expanding our protected areas estate ensures the conservation of essential habitats and threatened species, while also providing Queenslanders with valuable recreational opportunities.

“Since 2015, our Labor Government has added close to 2 million hectares to Queensland’s protected area estate and, since just the start of this year, we have acquired around 550,000 hectares for future dedication as national parks.

“Our Government has committed a record $262.5 million over four years to grow our protected areas—the single largest investment of its kind in Queensland’s history.

“Only the Miles Government is committed to growing our protected areas estate while also investing to ensure they are well-managed and able to be used by Queenslanders and tourists for recreation and tourism.”

Quotes attributable to Bush Heritage Australia Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Lowry:

“Bush Heritage Australia is committed to preserving the environmentally critical habitat found here at Edgbaston Reserve, which is now legally protected from harmful activities for decades to come.

“As one of the most significant sites for global biodiversity in the world, we are glad to see the Queensland Government prioritise the ongoing preservation of Edgbaston Reserve.

“Nature needs our protection now more than ever, and we’re holding high hopes for working with the Queensland government to also secure a number of other areas across Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Conservation Council Protected Areas Campaigner, Nicky Moffat:

“We strongly welcome these new protected areas, which will benefit endangered wildlife like the northern quoll, but also Queenslanders who enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle, and First Nations people whose country the new national parks are on.

“Studies show that investing $1 in Queensland’s national parks creates at least $6 in economic benefits through hospitality and tourism.

“It’s great to see vital forests protected for the conservation of threatened plants and animals - but local communities are the biggest winners in this decision.

“Many of these forests have long been enjoyed by bushwalkers, mountain bike riders and nature based businesses.

“We need more green spaces for our kids to get out and play, get off screens and enjoy life, and we need more jobs in nature, like those offered by ranger programs.”

Further information:

Images and video of Edgbaston Reserve are available for download here.

Learn more about Edgbaston Reserve here.

Existing national parks and conservation parks being expanded:

• around 843 hectares of Jimna State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, supporting several threatened species including the tusked frog, glossy black-cockatoo and koala.
• around 212 hectares of Elgin Vale State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, containing an of-concern regional ecosystem that will increase protection of habitat suitable for several threatened species including the koala.
• around 576 hectares of Yabba State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, supporting several threatened species including the tusked frog, glossy black-cockatoo and koala.
• around 657 hectares of Peachester State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, containing core koala habitat and providing significant ecological and recreational values for the broader community.
• around 479 hectares Bellthorpe State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Bellthorpe National Park, forming part of a bioregional corridor containing important lowland forest ecosystems and including habitat for species of conservation significance including the tusked frog, koala and cascade treefrog.
• two areas totalling 1,119 hectares of Beerburrum West State Forest for dedication as parts of the existing Glass House Mountains National Park and Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, providing connectivity and management benefits for the protected area estate in the Sunshine Coast. It also contains significant conservation values including habitat for species such as the glossy black-cockatoo and tusked frog.
• around 100 hectares of Deer Reserve State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Deer Reserve Conservation Park, containing significant conservation values including the presence of koala and rib-fruited malletwood.
• around 119 hectares of Luttons State Forest for dedication as part of the exiting Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, containing significant conservation values including the Coochin Hills grevillea and habitat for threatened fauna such as the central greater glider and koala.
• around 479 hectares of Yurol State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Tewantin National Park, which will enhance the natural ecosystems and deliver conservation and recreational opportunities for the community, including providing habitat for koalas.
• around 889 hectares of Ringtail State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Tewantin National Park, which will enhance the natural ecosystems and deliver conservation and recreational opportunities for the community, including providing habitat for koalas.
• around 428 hectares of unallocated State land to be dedicated as part Great Sandy National Park, which is predominantly natural closed heath and melaleuca open forest containing very high conservation values, and
• around 12,700 hectares of unallocated State land to be dedicated as part of Girringun National Park, which will provide protection for a range of endangered and of-concern habitats that support known populations of threatened fauna, including the Southern Cassowary, the Mahogany Glider and the Tube-nosed Insectivorous Bat.

ENDS

Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339