The Bligh Government is closing in on another significant conservation milestone with nearly one million hectares of nature refuges achieved in Queensland.
Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said more than 172,000 hectares across Queensland had gained extra protection through the signing of 14 new voluntary conservation agreements with landholders.
One of the new agreements is the massive Toko Range Nature Refuge, south west of Mount Isa, spanning more than 160,000 hectares.
The Toko Range Nature Refuge becomes the second largest in Queensland behind the Mulligan River Nature Refuge, past Boulia, which comes in at 250,000 hectares.
Ms Jones said the new agreements brought the state total of land covered under nature refuges to more than 900,000 hectares.
“The new properties span from Ballandean, near the New South Wales border, out west past Mount Isa towards the Northern Territory border and up north to Cooktown,” Ms Jones said. (Full list of new nature refuges below)
“The agreements will help protect natural habitat across the state.
“Protecting the amazing range of plants, animals and cultural diversity of our state is a shared responsibility and I congratulate the landholders involved for their willingness to partner with the State government in this important initiative.
“Like all agreements, the new nature refuges have been tailored to suit the needs of the particular site and the individual landholder.”
Ms Jones said Queensland now had more than 350 nature refuges which protected more than 900,000 hectares of habitat for the state’s unique biodiversity.
“Five of these new nature refuges have received funding totalling $900,000 to help the owners protect their conservation values,” she said.
“Funded activities may include revegetation, fencing, and eradicating weeds and pests.
“It’s great to see all of these landholders joining the Nature Refuges Program and I encourage others to consider making a lasting commitment to conservation in Queensland by entering into a nature refuge agreement.”
The new nature refuges are:
Brovinia Nature Refuge, 362ha, 47km south-west of Mundubberra, North Burnett Regional Council
Charlie Moorhead Nature Refuge, 24.0878ha, 4.5km east Mount Mee, Moreton Bay Regional Council
Cherry Nature Refuge, 110ha, 23km south-east of Gayndah, North Burnett Regional Council
Cobbold Gorge Nature Refuge, 4721ha, 8km south of Forsayth, Etheridge Shire
Flagstone Nature Refuge, 5650ha, 16km east of Collinsville, Whitsunday Regional Council
Gilberton Nature Refuge, 818ha, 57km south-west of Kidston, Etheridge Shire
Hells Gate Nature Refuge, 547ha, 25km west of Scottville, Whitsunday Regional Council
Horan’s Gorge Nature Refuge, 191ha, 4.7km north-east of Ballandean, Southern Downs Regional Council
Mount Kanigan Nature Refuge, 23.48ha, 3.5km north-east of Gunalda, Gympie Regional Council
Rattlesnake Point Nature Refuge, 100.9ha, 12.7km south-east of Rossville, Cook Shire
Tepon-Wondecla Nature Refuge, 21ha, 5km south-west of Herberton, Tablelands Regional Council
The Sanctuary Nature Refuge, 44ha, 7.6km east of Ballandean, Southern Downs Regional Council
Toko Range Nature Refuge, 160,094ha, 207.7km south-west of Mt Isa, Diamantina Shire
Wong’ai Nature Refuge, 15.72ha, 4.9km north-east of Traveston, Gympie Regional Council
3 November, 2009
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