- The Miles Government has started the process to dedicate around 12,000 hectares of state forest as national park and conservation park.
- The dedication is part of the government's commitment to transfer 20,000 hectares of state forest to the protected areas estate under the Native Timber Action Plan.
- Queensland's protected areas estate has grown by around 1.23 million hectares since 2015.
The Miles Government will dedicate more than 12,000 hectares of land currently declared as state forest as national and conservation park.
The process to dedicate the land begun in State Parliament today.
The dedication of the various areas of state forest as national park and conservation park aligns with the government's commitment to transfer 20,000 hectares of state forest to the protected areas estate under the Native Timber Action Plan.
This move will bring the total area of state forest added to the protected areas estate under the plan to just over 13,000ha.
The land being protected includes:
- around 843 hectares of Jimna State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, supporting several threatened species including the tusked frog, glossy black-cockatoo and koala.
- around 657 hectares of Peachester State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, containing core koala habitat and providing significant ecological and recreational values for the broader community.
- around 6,462 hectares of Squirrel Creek State Forest for dedication as the new Squirrel Creek National Park, containing endangered and of-concern regional ecosystems and riverine wetlands that provide important habitat for vulnerable species including the plumed frogmouth and black-breasted button-quail.
- around 479 hectares Bellthorpe State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Bellthorpe National Park, forming part of a bioregional corridor containing important lowland forest ecosystems and including habitat for species of conservation significance including the tusked frog, koala and cascade treefrog.
- two areas totalling 1,119 hectares of Beerburrum West State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Glass House Mountains National Park, providing connectivity and management benefits for the protected area estate in the Sunshine Coast. It also contains significant conservation values including habitat for species such as the glossy black-cockatoo and tusked frog.
- around 100 hectares of Deer Reserve State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Deer Reserve Conservation Park, containing significant conservation values including the presence of koala and rib-fruited malletwood.
- around 212 hectares of Elgin Vale State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, containing an of-concern regional ecosystem that will increase protection of habitat suitable for several threatened species including the koala.
- around 119 hectares of Luttons State Forest for dedication as part of the exiting Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, containing significant conservation values including the Coochin Hills grevillea and habitat for threatened fauna such as the central greater glider and koala.
- around 576 hectares of Yabba State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Wrattens National Park, supporting several threatened species including the tusked frog, glossy black-cockatoo and koala.
- around 289 hectares Delaneys Creek State Forest for dedication as the new Delaneys Creek Conservation Park, forming part of a bioregional corridor that contains habitat for unique flora and fauna including the hairy hazelwood and Richmond birdwing butterfly.
In addition to this, the following other areas of state forest will be dedicated under the Yurol Ringtail Conservation Project:
- around 479 hectares of Yurol State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Tewantin National Park, which will enhance the natural ecosystems and deliver conservation and recreational opportunities for the community, including providing habitat for koalas.
- around 889 hectares of Ringtail State Forest for dedication as part of the existing Tewantin National Park, which will enhance the natural ecosystems and deliver conservation and recreational opportunities for the community, including providing habitat for koalas.
As stated by the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard:
"The Miles Labor Government is doing what matters for Queenslanders, protecting and expanding areas of high environmental importance across the state.
"Dedicating more than 12,000 hectares of state forest as national and conservation parks reflects our government's proactive approach to environmental protection.
"This includes affording protection to our famous and threatened species, unique cultural heritage, ensuring vital forest resources are managed sustainably, offering unforgettable tourism experiences and providing Queenslanders with their most treasured recreational opportunities.
"Our protected are estate is a major contributor to Queensland's economic prosperity and growing our protected are estate is essential for not just the environment but also the economy."
As stated by Queensland Conservation Council Protected Areas Campaigner, Nicky Moffat:
"It's great to see the vital habitat these forests create being protected for future generations and for the conservation of threatened plants and animals.
"Community on the Sunshine Coast region will be overjoyed to see the vision for a connected swathe of protected forests around the Yabba State Forest come closer to fruition.
"Wildlife need large connected patches to thrive, so it is wonderful to see large areas of the high conservation value Yabba State Forest as well as the nearby Jimna and Elgin Vale state forests on track for protection.
"We would support a high level of investment in community consultation around the best management of these forests and hope the Kabi Kabi, Butchulla, Jinibara and any other Traditional Owners in the area are meaningfully involved in decisions about ongoing forest stewardship."
