The City has acquired a key land parcel on the northern Gold Coast which is the missing puzzle piece that helps create a massive 708 hectare critical wildlife refuge by joining together four existing conservation areas.
The City of Gold Coast has acquired, for $4.4 million, 93 hectares of critical wildlife corridor in Lanes Road, Wongawallan as a part of Our Natural City's Natural Areas Acquisition Program.
The land links four other City and State-managed wildlife conservation areas to create the critical wildlife refuge.
"The land acquisition is another important step forward in the City's commitment to protecting our native plants and animals, connecting and restoring their habitat," Mayor Tom Tate said.
"This particular piece of land is home to priority species including koalas, the glossy black cockatoo and several endangered plant species."
The newly acquired land is made up of seven allotments and links:
- the Wongawallan Conservation Area
- the Upper Ormeau Conservation Area
- the Wongawallan Conservation Area Upper Cedar Creek section; and
- the State-managed Howard Creek Conservation Area.
"Now the land has been acquired, the City will upgrade existing trails and restore vegetation to help protect plants, wildlife and their habitat while also providing more ways for people to enjoy nature," Mayor Tate said.
Other recent land purchases under the Natural Areas Acquisition Program includes:
- 9.95 hectares on Monday Drive, Tallebudgera Valley for $800,000 in September this year
- 19 hectares on Creek Street, Pimpama for $4.15 million in October last year
- 37.5 hectares on Tallebudgera Connection Road, Tallebudgera for $2.2 million in April last year
- 1.2 hectare on Old Coast Road, Burleigh Heads for $1.31 million in December 2021.
"These land acquisitions ensure we continue to provide safer pathways for wildlife and increase their long-term viability. Since 1999 we have spent more than $53 million acquiring more than 4522 hectares of land to help conserve our native flora and fauna," Mayor Tate said.
