- $350,000 has been allocated to transform Edgbaston Reserve, near Longreach, into a second special wildlife reserve.
- Privately owned by Bush Heritage Australia, the 8000ha Reserve has gained national park-level protection.
- The Reserve is home to a species of fish found nowhere else on earth and is the most significant natural springs for local biodiversity in the Great Artesian Basin
The Crisafulli Government has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection for the State's rich ecological gifts and natural wonders with funding to secure the Special Wildlife Reserve at Edgbaston near Longreach.
The Reserve is home to the red-finned blue-eye fish, one of Australia's smallest and most threatened freshwater fish.
The $350,000 funding commitment will support cultural heritage assessments and implement the Edgbaston Special Wildlife Reserve Management Program, ensuring permanent protection for one of the most ecologically significant sites in the world.
Privately owned by Bush Heritage Australia, Edgbaston Reserve gained national park-level protection earlier this year, safeguarding it from commercial activity and preserving its extraordinary biodiversity for generations to come.
Environment Minister Andrew Powell said the 8000-hectare property was home to the most significant natural springs in the Great Artesian Basin.
"The Edgbaston Reserve provides critical habitat for species found nowhere else on earth," said Minister Powell.
"Scientists have made ground-breaking discoveries, including 15 new plant species and the Edgbaston shrimp and amphipod."
The special wildlife reserve's declaration followed collaboration with Bush Heritage Australia and Bidjara Traditional Owners to protect this key property under the special wildlife reserve category, a framework established in Queensland in 2020 with the Pullen Pullen Special Wildlife Reserve.
Special wildlife reserves offer a powerful tool for conserving private land with exceptional natural and cultural value.
Bush Heritage Australia Chief Executive Officer Rachel Lowry said the organisation was delighted with the declaration of Edgbaston Special Wildlife Reserve.
"It is almost impossible to overestimate the vital importance of this reserve in protecting Australia's biodiversity, particularly in the Great Artesian Basin," Ms Lowry said.
Local MP, Member for Gregory Sean Dillon said the announcement ensured valuable environmental outcomes could be maintained in an area of high ecological sensitivity without compromising regional agriculture.
"We need to balance the needs of local graziers, with protecting this wild landscape. And this announcement guarantees that balance," said Mr Dillon.
