A vital link between two nature reserves in the Sunshine Coast hinterland is now protected with Council purchasing the 108ha block.
The $2 million acquisition of two land parcels of land on McCarthy Shute Rd, Wootha, 5km south of Maleny expands the neighbouring Annie Heir Environment Reserve and provides a now-preserved wildlife corridor to the Glasshouse Mountains National Park.
Sunshine Coast Division 5 Councillor Winston Johnston said the site was formerly owned by a local mill and used for native timber harvesting.
“Some parts of the site have been disturbed by harvesting, but most areas are high-quality habitat,” Cr Johnston said.
He said the area was home to at least eight threatened plant species and habitat for seven threatened animal species, from the iconic koala and glossy black cockatoo to the lesser-known long-nosed potoroo and Maleny spiny crayfish, a critically endangered species only found in the region.
“This acquisition, combined with the existing conservation estate and the national park, creates a total protected habitat of 537 hectares.
“This provides habitat for some of our most iconic wildlife and also locally significant and critically endangered plant species.”
Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Tim Burns said that when choosing where to purchase land for conservation, Council prioritised sites within strategic biodiversity corridors.
Cr Burns said biodiversity corridors were placed where it was possible to connect the natural landscape in a network across the region’s Biosphere.
“In connected corridors, feeding, migrating and reproducing is easier for all species: flora, fauna or fungi.
“Working towards connected corridors, fortified through conservation, is critical for healthy ecosystems and the bigger picture of our region’s biodiversity,” Cr Burns said.
