Nature refuge to protect endangered cassowary habitat

The State Government and the Townsville City Council have committed to protecting the habitat of the endangered cassowary in an area of rainforest north of the city.

Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, has signed an agreement with Townsville City Council to create Upper Sleeper Log Creek Nature Refuge.

“Townsville City Council will receive $30,500 to manage and protect this refuge,” Mr McNamara said.

"The property adjoins Paluma Range National Park, extending along Sleeper Log Creek to the coastal lowlands.

“The new nature refuge protects 1600 hectares of habitat of two endangered animals - the cassowary and the black-throated finch,” he said.

“It also contains ecosystems that are highly threatened due to vegetation clearing.”

Mr McNamara said the Upper Sleeper Log Nature Refuge was one of the first to be granted funding under the second round of the Queensland Government’s Nature Assist scheme.

“Like all nature refuge agreements, this one has been tailored to suit the needs of the individual landholder and the conditions of the environment,” Mr McNamara said.

“By protecting the land the council has made a great contribution to nature conservation in Queensland.

“I encourage more landholders to consider making such a lasting commitment to our environment by joining the Nature Refuge Program.”

NatureAssist is the incentive component of Queensland’s Nature Refuge Program which is designed to encourage and assist the conservation of private lands in Queensland.

There are 266 nature refuges across the state, covering more 500,000 hectares, with many more under negotiation.

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