More than 80 nature refuges across Queensland will share in close to $1 million in the latest round of the Palaszczuk Government's Nature Refuge Landholder Grants program.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the grants would fund conservation projects including weed and feral animal management, land restoration, flora and fauna surveys, restoring important koala habitat, protecting woodland and rainforest ecosystems, and fire management on properties that had been declared as nature refuges for native animals and flora.
"From the southernmost reaches of our state to Cape York in the far north, Queensland is home to 551 private protected areas – the largest private protected area network by land area in the country," Minister Scanlon said.
"Alone, private protected areas cover more than 4.47 million hectares of land, adding to 10 million hectares of land protected by this government through recent acquisitions like Bramwell and Richardson stations.
"That's why we created the Nature Refuge Landholder Grants program, to support private landholders who are doing their bit to support the environment through owning and managing a nature refuge.
"Additionally, these type of projects also create new opportunities for local businesses to conduct the work and help drive our economic recovery plan from COVID-19.
"It's part of our record $1.4 billion investment in the environment to protect it, grow it and create jobs.
Minister Scanlon said nature refuges benefiting from the latest grant round included:
- Beau Vallon Nature Refuge at Pinbarren, $17,703 for weed control to restore a koala corridor
- Brian Burke Reserve Nature Refuge at Samford Valley, $20,000 for weed control and revegetation of a gully restoration area
- Resolute Nature Refuge at Nanango, $15,425 for road and fence line maintenance, weeding activities, fire management, signage and a flora survey
- Aberdeen Nature Refuge at Bowen, $20,000 for woody weed management to rehabilitate native vegetation areas
- Homehaven Nature Refuge at Bogie (near Bowen), $20,000 for woody weed management to rehabilitate native grasses and habitat
- Yourka Reserve Nature Refuge at Innot Hot Springs, $15,631 for a mammal survey and monitoring to improve understanding of their responses to management methods including fire management, weed and feral animal control
- Bariya Nature Refuge at Balmoral Ridge (near Maleny), $14,273 for weed control to regenerate rainforest through tree planting
- Mount Zero-Taravale Nature Refuge at Paluma (near Townsville), $15,514 for a survey and monitoring to map the distribution of the Magnificent Broodfrog population and habitat
- Craven's Peak (Pilungah) Nature Refuge at Sturt (near Townsville), $19,147 for Buffel Grass control and other weed control to enhance the gidgee woodlands
- Dirrans End Nature Refuge at Tarzali (near Malanda), $19,099 for a track upgrade to provide all weather access to enable the surveying of microbat presence and fauna use of remnant vegetation
- Freemans Forest Nature Refuge at Lake Eacham, $17,950 for surveys of fauna and flora biodiversity of replanted wildlife corridors
- Kings Plains – Alkoomie Nature Refuge at Cooktown, $19,897 for weed control, feral pig management, and track repair
- Caloola Nature Refuge at Cooktown, $19,455 for weed and feral animal control
- Maroobi Park Nature Refuge at Lake Barrine, $15,951 for fauna and flora biodiversity surveys to inform future revegetation
- Donaghy's Corridor Nature Refuge at Lake Barrine $15,951 for fauna and flora biodiversity surveys to inform future revegetation
- South Endeavour Nature Refuge at Cooktown, $20,000 for a fauna survey to compare with previous surveys to gauge the faunal diversity and abundance
- Whiteside Road Park Koala Nature Refuge at Whiteside (near Petrie), $20,000 for weed control to enhance the quality of koala and other native wildlife habitat
- Telemark Nature Refuge at Eidsvold, $19,805 for the installation of fencing and waterpoints to protect sensitive areas from stock incursions
- Misty Mountain Nature Refuge at Millaa Millaa, $15,995 for weed control and revegetation to strengthen wildlife corridors
- Illmargani Nature Refuge on the Darling Downs, $18,879 for feral animal control and fencing to protect the refuge from grazing
- Teemburra Nature Refuge at Pinnacle (near Mackay), $19,000 for fencing to manage livestock rotation, pasture density, wildfire risk and wildlife habitat.
- Kalisha Nature Refuge at Upper Flagstone, $16,466 for weed control, fire management and erosion control
- Archontophoenix Grove Nature Refuge at Inverness (near Yeppoon), $20,000 for fire management, weed control and tree planting.
- Shingle Hut Creek Nature Refuge at Thornton (north-west of Boonah), $20,000 for fire management including riparian area fencing and earth works for firebreaks and fire access tracks
- Old Hidden Vale Nature Refuge at Grandchester, $20,000 for weeding activities
- Spicers Peak Station Nature Refuge at Maryvale, $15,000 for weeding activities
Minister Scanlon praised Queensland's nature refuge landholders, saying their work would protect critical land for future generations.
"Since 2015, the Palaszczuk Government has increased the amount of protected areas across Queensland by over 1.1 million hectares and committed $60 million to continue expanding and managing these areas.
"That's after we became the first state in Australia to create a new class of protected area, providing the same level of protection on private land as national parks.
"By dedicating their land as a nature refuge, landholders are helping to protect Queensland's unique biodiversity."
A full list of successful Nature Refuge Landholder Grant Round 5 recipients is available at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/parks/protected-areas/private/landholder-grants
