More national park areas added to Queensland protected estate

Published Saturday, 25 June, 2016 at 10:00 AM

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
The Honourable Steven Miles

Significant areas have been added to national and regional parks in Queensland this week, bringing the total protected area to 13,704,240 hectares covering 7.92 percent of Queensland.

National Parks Minister Dr Steven Miles said the additions, declared by the Governor on Thursday (23 June), meant the Government was well on the way to meeting the commitment of having 17 percent of Queensland managed as protected area.

“Some of the newly added areas are vast, while others are tiny, but all have ecological or cultural significance,” Dr Miles said.

“I’m happy to say that more land will be added to the protected area estate, with an additional $5 million in the budget for new acquisitions.

“And the management of new parks will be supported by new budget funding of $35.9 million over four years.

“The Palaszczuk Government is also providing up to 31 new ranger jobs over four years, around the state.”

This week’s declaration will result in the state’s national park area increasing by 41,558 hectares, while 474 hectares have become new regional parks.

Dr Miles said the latest declarations followed a major boost to the protected area estate in late 2015 when three new national parks and six new regional parks were declared, and the recent $7 million purchase of Springvale Station near Cooktown to reduce sediment going onto the Great Barrier Reef.

“We know climate change will place increasing pressure on Queensland’s environment, affecting plants, animals and ecosystems,” he said.

“By creating more national parks and reserves, government can develop strategies to manage them to maintain healthy habitats and build resilience to climate change.

“Effective management will give flora and fauna the best chance of survival as Queensland’s climate changes.

“Through acquisition, we are ensuring high conservation values are protected and maintained for future generations to explore and enjoy.”

Dr Miles said one notable declaration this week was the amalgamation and renaming of seven parcels of existing regional park totalling about 26ha on the Gold Coast, into one tenure named after Dr David Fleay.

“The name change, to David Fleay Regional Park, honours his legacy of conservation and public education,” he said.

National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) president Michelle Prior said national parks were recognised as a key strategy in nature conservation.

“NPAQ congratulates the State Government for connecting and protecting Queensland’s natural heritage,” Ms Prior said.

“Queensland’s protected areas are critical in preventing extinctions of some of the world’s threatened mammals, birds and amphibians. 

“NPAQ is pleased to see progress in expanding the protected area estate. Whether an added area is large or small, what’s important is quality – it’s not always about the number of hectares,” she said.

The declarations this week include:

  • 38,402 hectares of former regional park added to Currawinya National Park, about 113km west of Cunnamulla. The added area originally cost $1.1 million and is part of a significant wildlife corridor, and contains part of the upper catchments of creeks that flow into the Ramsar-listed lake systems of the park.
  • 586.6 hectares added to Lamington National Park on the eastern edge of the Lamington escarpment in the Gold Coast hinterland. This important addition was announced on the park’s 100th birthday in 2015. It has a range of biodiversity values, and links two sections of the national park.
  • 15.9 hectares of cassowary habitat added to Moresby Range National Park southeast of Innisfail.
  • 39.9 hectares of unallocated State land added to Mt Barney National Park. The added land has significant conservation values, including habitat for the golden-tipped bat.
  • 67.7 hectares dedicated as Dinden Regional Park, 8km south of Cairns.
  • 3ha of unallocated State land added to Springbrook National Park.
  • the new 34 hectare Noosa Regional Park 1 beside the Coolum Eco Industrial Park day-use area near Peregian Springs.
  • 57 hectares added to Tewantin National Park, purchased under the Koala Habitat Program for $740,000.
  • 1580 hectares of unallocated State land added to Undara Volcanic National Park about 196km southwest of Cairns. The land is part of the Granite Range, which is of state conservation significance.
  • 369 hectares added to Bouldercombe Gorge Regional Park 1, which is 26km south of Rockhampton. The land was donated by local conservationists to protect the endangered plant Decaspermum struckoilicum.
  • 0.2421 hectares added to Cape Upstart National Park. The formerly freehold land was given to the State for conservation purposes.
  • Amalgamation of seven Gold Coast regional parks totalling about 26 hectares into one park, David Fleay Regional Park.

ENDS

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