Published Tuesday, 10 July, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
New nature refuge delivers water quality benefits in SEQ
A new nature refuge over southeast Queensland’s major water catchments surrounding Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine Dams will deliver major conservation and water quality benefits.
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the 8195ha SEQWater Nature Refuge was part of a million dollar plan to protect the region’s largest biodiversity corridor, linking the Brisbane Valley Riparian Corridor with the D’Aguilar Range.
“The signing of this nature refuge conservation agreement is an historic agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and SEQWater,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“More than 250 properties, covering more than 560,000ha, have been declared under the nature refuge program across Queensland.
“National Parks alone can’t protect all of Queensland’s rich variety of plants and animals.
“Through the protection of nature refuges, private and commercial landholders can play a part, sustaining natural habitats, voluntarily sharing their properties with our native wildlife, while balancing production and other uses on the property.
“This nature refuge will protect 26 different regional ecosystems and provide habitat for many rare and threatened species, including the endangered red goshawk the vulnerable koala and the rare black-necked stork.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the SEQWater Nature Refuge was a vital part of the biodiversity corridor planned under SEQWater’s SEQ Regional Biodiversity Project.
“This project will reconnect the Brisbane Valley Riparian Corridor with the D’Aguilar Range, and is crucial to ensuring the long-term preservation and protection of this area.
“Together with the biodiversity corridor, the SEQWater Nature Refuge will deliver major conservation and water quality benefits with the potential to significantly reduce water treatment costs over time.
“A study of major US water suppliers in 2001 showed that for every 10 per cent increase in re-vegetation, treatment costs decreased by about 20 percent,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“SEQWater’s corridor project, in partnership with SEQ Catchments, will restore remnant vegetation in the catchment around Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams – storages owned and operated by SEQWater and responsible for supplying 85 percent of the region’s drinking water.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the State Government’s Department of Natural Resources and Water, through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Nature Assist program, would provide $120,000 to SEQWater to manage the area under the nature refuge conservation agreement.
SEQWater CEO Peter Borrows said the organisation’s vision was to have a functional vegetation buffer around its dams.
“This will act as a filter strip to deliver improved water quality and better protect and preserve regionally significant plant and animal species,” Mr Borrows said.
“Good catchment management is the first, and best, form of defence for improving water quality.”
The SEQWater Biodiversity project, including the nature refuge, will take 12 months to roll out and will include: retaining and managing re-growth; encouraging natural regeneration; re-vegetation of large areas; managing bushland with fire; weed and pest animal control; repairing serious erosion sites; and associated fencing and stock-watering infrastructure.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the projects also provided opportunities to better preserve significant species of plants and animals in southeast Queensland, one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth.
“These projects are going to be delivered in partnership with SEQWater, SEQ Catchments, Green Fleet and, most importantly, SEQWater lessees and private landowners in the catchment. I applaud their involvement and support,’’ she said.
To find out more about the nature refuge program go to www.epa.qld.gov.au.
Media Contact:
Minister’s office - Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Lisa Gilby 3336 8002
SEQ Water – Mike Foster 3229 3399
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the 8195ha SEQWater Nature Refuge was part of a million dollar plan to protect the region’s largest biodiversity corridor, linking the Brisbane Valley Riparian Corridor with the D’Aguilar Range.
“The signing of this nature refuge conservation agreement is an historic agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and SEQWater,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“More than 250 properties, covering more than 560,000ha, have been declared under the nature refuge program across Queensland.
“National Parks alone can’t protect all of Queensland’s rich variety of plants and animals.
“Through the protection of nature refuges, private and commercial landholders can play a part, sustaining natural habitats, voluntarily sharing their properties with our native wildlife, while balancing production and other uses on the property.
“This nature refuge will protect 26 different regional ecosystems and provide habitat for many rare and threatened species, including the endangered red goshawk the vulnerable koala and the rare black-necked stork.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the SEQWater Nature Refuge was a vital part of the biodiversity corridor planned under SEQWater’s SEQ Regional Biodiversity Project.
“This project will reconnect the Brisbane Valley Riparian Corridor with the D’Aguilar Range, and is crucial to ensuring the long-term preservation and protection of this area.
“Together with the biodiversity corridor, the SEQWater Nature Refuge will deliver major conservation and water quality benefits with the potential to significantly reduce water treatment costs over time.
“A study of major US water suppliers in 2001 showed that for every 10 per cent increase in re-vegetation, treatment costs decreased by about 20 percent,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“SEQWater’s corridor project, in partnership with SEQ Catchments, will restore remnant vegetation in the catchment around Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams – storages owned and operated by SEQWater and responsible for supplying 85 percent of the region’s drinking water.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the State Government’s Department of Natural Resources and Water, through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Nature Assist program, would provide $120,000 to SEQWater to manage the area under the nature refuge conservation agreement.
SEQWater CEO Peter Borrows said the organisation’s vision was to have a functional vegetation buffer around its dams.
“This will act as a filter strip to deliver improved water quality and better protect and preserve regionally significant plant and animal species,” Mr Borrows said.
“Good catchment management is the first, and best, form of defence for improving water quality.”
The SEQWater Biodiversity project, including the nature refuge, will take 12 months to roll out and will include: retaining and managing re-growth; encouraging natural regeneration; re-vegetation of large areas; managing bushland with fire; weed and pest animal control; repairing serious erosion sites; and associated fencing and stock-watering infrastructure.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the projects also provided opportunities to better preserve significant species of plants and animals in southeast Queensland, one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth.
“These projects are going to be delivered in partnership with SEQWater, SEQ Catchments, Green Fleet and, most importantly, SEQWater lessees and private landowners in the catchment. I applaud their involvement and support,’’ she said.
To find out more about the nature refuge program go to www.epa.qld.gov.au.
Media Contact:
Minister’s office - Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Lisa Gilby 3336 8002
SEQ Water – Mike Foster 3229 3399