Environment Levy purchase protects more land in Noosa

Noosa Council’s Environment Levy has secured a large parcel of land near Boreen Point for conservation.

The 51-hectare property on Louis Bazzo Drive contains important wetlands and koala habitat. Koalas have recently been reported in the area. 

Noosa Councillor Brian Stockwell said the land was a perfect fit with requirements for purchasing land under the Environment Levy increasing the area of environmentally significant land that is under conservation protection.

The purchase builds on existing Bushland Reserve on the shores of Lake Cootharaba and helps connect Great Sandy National Park with the Yurol-Ringtail State Forests.

”Protecting corridors that allow wildlife to move between our large protected areas is essential for the survival of koalas and many other species,” Cr Stockwell said.  

“The land also contains significant wetlands, which provide important recharge areas for groundwater, helping to maintain the quality surface and groundwater flowing into the Noosa River”.

Council’s Environment Levy funded the $395,000 land purchase.

A second land parcel, Cooloothin Creek Bushland Reserve, has recently been gazetted as a Nature Refuge.

Council’s Principal Environment Officer, Peter Milne, said that this land was purchased with the Environment Levy in 2015.

“Having the reserve declared a Nature Refuge under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 provides additional protection for this unique 106 hectare land parcel on the Noosa River”, Mr Milne said. 

1 July 2019