150 Hectares Acquired for Sunshine Coast Wildlife Conservation

150 hectares have been acquired on the Sunny Coast to create a new conservation area linking council reserves and Noosa National Park.

The land will create a wildlife corridor for threatened species such as koalas and ground parrots, as well as other native species, to move between key habitat areas on the Sunshine Coast.

The Queensland Government partnered with Sunshine Coast Council to acquire the property at Peregian Beach for future declaration as a conservation park.

Both organisations will work with the Kabi Kabi People to oversee the management of the estate and future-proof its unique biodiversity.

The land acquired – which will form a new conservation park | Image thanks to QLD Government Department of Resources

Essential Habitat for Native Wildlife

The property – located on Monak Road at Peregian Beach – shares boundaries with the Doonan Wetland Nature Refuge and Noosa National Park.

The extensive bushland and strong diversity of vegetation provides essential habitat for koalas, the Ground parrot, the Glossy black cockatoo, the sand yabby, the Wallum froglet, and the Tusked frog.

It’s also home to the endangered Mountain Emu she-oak which is only found within a 55km radius between Beerburrum and Noosa.

The future conservation area will ensure protected habitat is available for these species for generations to come – as residential development continues rapidly across the Sunshine Coast.

Wallum Froglet in the Noosa National Park | Image thanks to Trevor Hatfield, QLD Government

A Win for Locals as Well as Wildlife

The acquisition of land for conservation has been welcomed by locals, as well as the Queensland Conservation Council.

QCC Protected Areas Campaigner, Nicky Moffat, said, ‘Today’s announcement is a positive step towards protecting Australia’s most biodiverse state through the expansion of protected areas that our kids and grandkids can enjoy.

Connecting the Doonan Wetlands Nature Refuge and Noosa National Park on Kabi Kabi land, with this bushland, will create a wildlife corridor that locals have been fighting for for a long time.

It’s great to see the vital habitat these forests create for threatened species like our iconic koalas will be protected from development and cared for in meaningful consultation with Traditional Owners, the Kabi Kabi People’, she said.

Feature image thanks to ACF