MORE ADDITIONS TO QUEENSLAND’S PROTECTED AREA

1. Two more state forests have been identified for addition to Queensland’s protected areas
2. Parts of Peachester State Forest and Beerburrum West State Forest will be added to Queensland’s protected area
3. The State forests are in the Glass House Mountains region

The Palaszczuk Government has identified two Sunshine Coast hinterland State forests that will become the next State Forests to be added to our protected area.

Parts of Peachester State Forest and Beerburrum West State Forest will be identified as priority additions to Queensland’s protected areas.

Areas of plantation timber in these State Forests will be excluded from the transfer.

These areas, combined with Luttons State Forest, will protect open eucalypt forest, rainforest and coastal wallum remnants, which are home to threatened species such as koalas and greater gliders.

The identification of these two State Forests follows the announcement in December 2022 that Luttons State Forest, parts of Deer Reserve, Wickham Timber Reserve, Ferny Forest, Beerwah Forest Reserve and West Cooroy and Mount Mee State Forests had been prioritised for transfer in 2023.

Quotes attributable to Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“The Palaszczuk Government is delivering on our election commitment to increase the size of our protected areas.

“Across Queensland, we now have more than 14 million hectares of protected area, which we will continue to grow thanks to our record $262.5 million to expand and create new national parks.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt:

“It’s this government that has committed to add up to 20,000 hectares of State Forest in the south east to our protected area before 31 December 2024.

“The Glass House Mountains are so magnificent they are listed on the National Heritage Register as a landscape of national significance.”

 
Quotes attributable to Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton:

“The surrounding national park includes 20 plant species of national conservation significance, including open eucalypt woodland and heath vegetation.

“We will consult with the Traditional Owners, the Kabi Kabi People’s Aboriginal Corporation to ensure the natural and cultural values of the State forests are protected and conserved.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Conservation Council protected areas campaigner Nicky Moffat who welcomed the announcement as significant for the Sunshine Coast area:

“The local community has been calling for its forests to be protected. It is great that threatened species habitat and other conservation values in these areas will now be safe.

“It’s positive news these areas have been protected ahead of the 2024 deadline for the ending of native forest logging in southeast Queensland.

“Doubling Queensland’s protected areas from 8.2% to 17% of the state will require about 15 million hectares of new conservation reserves and national parks. We hope to see many more announcements like this in coming months.

“There are 70,000 hectares to protect in South East Queensland, and we will be working with local communities to ensure all high conservation value native forests in Queensland are protected.”