Published Thursday, 27 March, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Impressive addition to Culgoa Floodplain National Park
The Queensland Government today declared an impressive addition of 18,600 hectares to Culgoa Floodplain National Park in the Murray-Darling Basin, about 150km south-east of Cunnamulla.
The addition is the largest in a group of protected area extensions announced this week to mark the centenary of national parks in Queensland.
Also included in the group is 565-hectare extension to Lochern National Park, 115 kilometres southwest of Longreach.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara,
said the additions were a fitting way to mark 100 years since the first park, Witches Falls in the Gold Coast hinterland, was declared on 28 March 1908.
Mr McNamara said the addition includes the property previously known as Toulby Station adjoining the western boundary of the park, where the brigalow belt and mulga lands bioregions intersect.
“The addition of ‘Toulby’ would significantly improve the integrity and reserve design of the national reserve system within the Mulga Lands and Darling Riverine Plains,” Mr McNamara said.
“The area has high biodiversity value – it includes significant riparian and floodplain systems associated with Nebine Creek that are listed as a wetland of national significance.
“The added area has five regional ecosystems that aren’t present in the older part of the park. Two of those ecosystems are listed as ‘endangered’ and two are listed as of concern.
“Culgoa Floodplain is a birdwatcher’s haven with more than 150 species including 10 honeyeaters, Australia’s six species of woodswallow and beautiful parrots. Visitors also spot kangaroos, sand goannas, shingleback lizards and bearded dragons.
“Climate change has reinforced the value of our protected areas to defend biodiversity.
“These latest additions to our parks cover a huge variety of ecosystems and will certainly carry out that role of protecting our biodiversity.
“Since that first small national park was declared in 1908, Queensland’s park estate has grown to 282 national parks covering about 7,600,000 hectares, from desert to rainforest to reef.”
The Culgoa Floodplain addition was purchased with funds from the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency and the Australian Government’s National Reserve System Program. The park’s new area will be 61,900ha.
Centenary celebrations kick off this weekend at Tamborine National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland and continue for the next 12 months throughout the state.
More information about Culgoa Floodplain National Park and the Centenary of Parks celebrations: www.epa.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004
The addition is the largest in a group of protected area extensions announced this week to mark the centenary of national parks in Queensland.
Also included in the group is 565-hectare extension to Lochern National Park, 115 kilometres southwest of Longreach.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara,
said the additions were a fitting way to mark 100 years since the first park, Witches Falls in the Gold Coast hinterland, was declared on 28 March 1908.
Mr McNamara said the addition includes the property previously known as Toulby Station adjoining the western boundary of the park, where the brigalow belt and mulga lands bioregions intersect.
“The addition of ‘Toulby’ would significantly improve the integrity and reserve design of the national reserve system within the Mulga Lands and Darling Riverine Plains,” Mr McNamara said.
“The area has high biodiversity value – it includes significant riparian and floodplain systems associated with Nebine Creek that are listed as a wetland of national significance.
“The added area has five regional ecosystems that aren’t present in the older part of the park. Two of those ecosystems are listed as ‘endangered’ and two are listed as of concern.
“Culgoa Floodplain is a birdwatcher’s haven with more than 150 species including 10 honeyeaters, Australia’s six species of woodswallow and beautiful parrots. Visitors also spot kangaroos, sand goannas, shingleback lizards and bearded dragons.
“Climate change has reinforced the value of our protected areas to defend biodiversity.
“These latest additions to our parks cover a huge variety of ecosystems and will certainly carry out that role of protecting our biodiversity.
“Since that first small national park was declared in 1908, Queensland’s park estate has grown to 282 national parks covering about 7,600,000 hectares, from desert to rainforest to reef.”
The Culgoa Floodplain addition was purchased with funds from the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency and the Australian Government’s National Reserve System Program. The park’s new area will be 61,900ha.
Centenary celebrations kick off this weekend at Tamborine National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland and continue for the next 12 months throughout the state.
More information about Culgoa Floodplain National Park and the Centenary of Parks celebrations: www.epa.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004