June 14, 2024
The State Government has begun a process to turn about 12,000ha of State Forest into National Parks or Conservation Parks.
The land to be protected includes 212ha of Elgin Vale State Forest, 576ha of Yabba State Forest and 843ha of Jimna State Forest which will be added to Wrattens National Park.
About 6462ha of Squirrel Creek State Forest will become the new Squirrel Creek National Park.
The land includes koala habitat and supports threatened and vulnerable species including the tusked frog, glossy black-cockatoo, plumed frogmouth and black-breasted button-quail.
Queensland Conservation Council Protected Areas Campaigner Nicky Moffat said vital habitat was being protected for future generations.
“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,” Mr Moffat said.
“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.”
Other areas to be protected include sites around Peachester, Bellthorpe, the Glass House Mountains and Tewantin.
