Nature Refuges - A big win for Queensland’s wild things

Close to 470,000 hectares of Queensland’s diverse natural treasures are now safeguarded -- thanks to the latest round of conservation agreements between landowners and the Queensland Government.

Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr announced 22 new nature refuges covering about 6,500 hectares, had been created in the most recent round -bringing the total number of Queensland nature refuges to 223.

Ms Nelson-Carr said she was impressed so many landholders were working with the Environmental Protection Agency to conserve some of Queensland’s most bio-diverse areas as nature refuges.

“The popularity of this Nature Refuge program further demonstrates that protecting the environment and managing sustainable rural enterprises are not mutually exclusive.”

“Covered by the Nature Conservation Act, these agreements ensure some very special land parcels on working properties are saved from development into the future - even if the properties change hands,” she said.

Highlights of the latest package of nature refuges included:

• protection of remnant scrub land near Chinchilla - home to the rare golden-tailed gecko;
• endangered grassy woodlands near Rockhampton - the site of a planned eco-tourism retreat;
• Wet Tropics nature refuges - to protect tree kangaroos, yellow bellied gliders, ringtail possums, and southern cassowaries;
• Daintree nature refuges which protect 39 hectares of remnant and regenerating vine forest connecting to the Daintree National Park, and is home to the vulnerable Macleay’s fig-parrot, the peeping whistlefrog, and the endangered southern cassowary.
• Wild Wings and Swampy Things Nature Refuge adjoins the intact contiguous vine forests on land on the northern slopes of the Dagmar Range and is well connected to the Daintree National Park section of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area
• the first ever nature refuge agreement between a coal mining company and the Queensland Government, by Anglo Coal at German Creek, Broadsound in central Queensland;
• protection of South-East Queensland’s threatened wildlife species including the red goshawk, koala, and native jute species
• a nature refuge at Moreton Bay Boys College which will conserve the endangered swamp orchid species – the potential site of a world-class outdoor education centre
• A family near Bowen declaring a second part of their Mount Pleasant property, to protect an range of ecosystems, from eucalypt woodland plains to vine forest atop Scrub Top Mountain

Ms Nelson-Carr praised the landowners for signing up to the nature refuge program.

“These landholders know their properties are in special parts of Queensland so it is great to see them signing up and proving individuals have the power to protect the diverse range of wildlife right in their backyards,” she said.

“Each agreement is tailored to suit the needs of the particular area and the individual landholder.

“This includes primary production or the use of natural resources if conducive to the environmental needs, Ms Nelson-Carr said.

"I encourage more landholders to consider making a lasting commitment to conservation in Queensland by committing part or all of their property to a nature refuge.”

The latest additions bring the total area of nature refuges in Queensland to 467 498.79 hectares.

For more information, please visit www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/nature_refuges or phone 1800 603 604.

Media contact: Karla Steen on 3336 8004