Bligh Government boosts Central Queensland’s environmental reserves
Published Wednesday, 18 February, 2009 at 02:24 PM
Minister for Natural Resources and Water and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland
The Honourable Craig Wallace
The Bligh Government has dedicated 4700 hectares of land across the Central Queensland region for conservation.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace today announced the transfer of land for inclusion into the Bouldercombe Gorge Resources Reserve, west of Rockhampton, Lake Learmouth State Forest, north of Rockhampton, and Castle Tower National Park, south of Gladstone.
Mr Wallace said the land parcels would be transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for conservation purposes.
“This is another example of the Bligh Government working to achieve it’s Q2 goal of a greener Queensland for tomorrow,’’ Mr Wallace said.
“These land transfers are a boost to the local environment and will ensure it can be effectively managed as part of the larger environmental area.”
Mr Wallace said approximately 2300 hectares have been transferred to the EPA in the Bouldercombe Resources Reserve - a reserve which previously contained almost 1700 hectares.
At Castle Tower National Park, the Bligh Government has added approximately 1600 hectares of land to the existing 6900 hectares.
And at Lake Learmouth State Forest, approximately 800 hectares are being transferred for inclusion in the State Forest, which previously covered approximately 3500 hectares.
Member for Fitzroy, Jim Pearce, welcomed the move and said the land transfers would go a long way in protecting the environmental values of the area.
“By protecting land such as this we are ensuring our wonderful environment is secure for the enjoyment of future generations,” Mr Pearce said.
“This is another example of the Bligh Government working to achieve our Q2 goal of a greener Queensland for tomorrow.”
Minister Wallace said the four parcels of land being added to Bouldercombe Gorge Resources Reserve will form part of a major north-south corridor extending from Bouldercombe in the north to near Mt Perry in the south.
“Collectively, the Resources Reserve and adjoining State forest will form a 50km long corridor under EPA management,’’ Mr Wallace said.
"The steep terrain of Bouldercombe Gorge Recreation Reserve produces significant patches of vine thicket, providing a major food source for birds and bats in particular.
"This area also provides a valuable environment for the rare grease nut, or cudgerie tree, and the steep slopes are also home to the ancient endangered plant Cycas megacarpa."
"The majority of this land is considered of “State’’ or “Regional’’ significance for biodiversity conservation under the EPA Biodiversity Planning Assessment in the Brigalow Belt Region."
Mr Wallace said the land transfer at Castle Tower National Park will allow a linkage between Castle Tower and Mt Stanley State Forest, while also providing new access to the national park, allowing for better control of pests such as wild dogs and feral pigs.
“This access is also valuable for fire management in an area which contains several rare plants, including the Byfield spider grevillea which is threatened with extinction," Mr Wallace said.
"The land near Lake Learmouth State Forest is also home to several threatened vegetation species including the endangered Capparis (Cap-aris) humistrata (Humi-strata) and Macrozamia (Macro-zaimia) serpentina (serp-en-tina).
“Other valuable vegetation in this region includes the Queensland Blue Gum, Broad-leaved Ironbark, Broad-leaved Paperbark, Moreton Bay Ash and the Black Tea Tree."
Mr Wallace said the Bligh Government is committed to giving native wildlife the best chance of survival by protecting their habitats and increasing land for national parks and other protected areas.
“Parks and forests like these help protect Queensland’s wonderful natural diversity and scenery, while providing homes for native wildlife.
"We want more and more Queenslanders to enjoy the great outdoors and come to appreciate our state's unique biodiversity. The expansion of these conservation areas ensures the protection our parks and forests and the animals living within for years to come,’’ he said.
As at June last year, 7.6 million hectares of land in Queensland was dedicated to conservation through 282 national parks.
Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office, 3896 3688.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace today announced the transfer of land for inclusion into the Bouldercombe Gorge Resources Reserve, west of Rockhampton, Lake Learmouth State Forest, north of Rockhampton, and Castle Tower National Park, south of Gladstone.
Mr Wallace said the land parcels would be transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for conservation purposes.
“This is another example of the Bligh Government working to achieve it’s Q2 goal of a greener Queensland for tomorrow,’’ Mr Wallace said.
“These land transfers are a boost to the local environment and will ensure it can be effectively managed as part of the larger environmental area.”
Mr Wallace said approximately 2300 hectares have been transferred to the EPA in the Bouldercombe Resources Reserve - a reserve which previously contained almost 1700 hectares.
At Castle Tower National Park, the Bligh Government has added approximately 1600 hectares of land to the existing 6900 hectares.
And at Lake Learmouth State Forest, approximately 800 hectares are being transferred for inclusion in the State Forest, which previously covered approximately 3500 hectares.
Member for Fitzroy, Jim Pearce, welcomed the move and said the land transfers would go a long way in protecting the environmental values of the area.
“By protecting land such as this we are ensuring our wonderful environment is secure for the enjoyment of future generations,” Mr Pearce said.
“This is another example of the Bligh Government working to achieve our Q2 goal of a greener Queensland for tomorrow.”
Minister Wallace said the four parcels of land being added to Bouldercombe Gorge Resources Reserve will form part of a major north-south corridor extending from Bouldercombe in the north to near Mt Perry in the south.
“Collectively, the Resources Reserve and adjoining State forest will form a 50km long corridor under EPA management,’’ Mr Wallace said.
"The steep terrain of Bouldercombe Gorge Recreation Reserve produces significant patches of vine thicket, providing a major food source for birds and bats in particular.
"This area also provides a valuable environment for the rare grease nut, or cudgerie tree, and the steep slopes are also home to the ancient endangered plant Cycas megacarpa."
"The majority of this land is considered of “State’’ or “Regional’’ significance for biodiversity conservation under the EPA Biodiversity Planning Assessment in the Brigalow Belt Region."
Mr Wallace said the land transfer at Castle Tower National Park will allow a linkage between Castle Tower and Mt Stanley State Forest, while also providing new access to the national park, allowing for better control of pests such as wild dogs and feral pigs.
“This access is also valuable for fire management in an area which contains several rare plants, including the Byfield spider grevillea which is threatened with extinction," Mr Wallace said.
"The land near Lake Learmouth State Forest is also home to several threatened vegetation species including the endangered Capparis (Cap-aris) humistrata (Humi-strata) and Macrozamia (Macro-zaimia) serpentina (serp-en-tina).
“Other valuable vegetation in this region includes the Queensland Blue Gum, Broad-leaved Ironbark, Broad-leaved Paperbark, Moreton Bay Ash and the Black Tea Tree."
Mr Wallace said the Bligh Government is committed to giving native wildlife the best chance of survival by protecting their habitats and increasing land for national parks and other protected areas.
“Parks and forests like these help protect Queensland’s wonderful natural diversity and scenery, while providing homes for native wildlife.
"We want more and more Queenslanders to enjoy the great outdoors and come to appreciate our state's unique biodiversity. The expansion of these conservation areas ensures the protection our parks and forests and the animals living within for years to come,’’ he said.
As at June last year, 7.6 million hectares of land in Queensland was dedicated to conservation through 282 national parks.
Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office, 3896 3688.