Endangered quoll, native forests to benefit from two new national parks

Conservationists are celebrating the announcement today of two new national parks in Queensland to protect our iconic wildlife including the endangered northern quoll.

The Miles Government announced today it had officially established Queensland’s two newest national parks as well as the state’s second special wildlife reserve and a new conservation park.

The newly created protected areas are:

• Redcliffe Tableland National Park, 10,300 hectares west of Mackay, which contains endangered and of-concern regional ecosystems and is an important habitat for the endangered northern quoll, vulnerable squatter pigeon and other woodland species
• Squirrel Creek National Park, a 6,400ha area about 110km north-west of Brisbane, providing refuge for vulnerable species including the plumed frogmouth and black-breasted buttonquail
• Delaneys Creek Conservation Park about 50 kilometres north of Brisbane, protecting 300ha of habitat for unique flora and fauna including the hairy hazelwood and Richmond birdwing butterfly
• Edgbaston Special Wildlife Reserve, Queensland’s second special wildlife reserve which protects an 8,000 ha area 140km north-east of Longreach

Queensland Conservation Council welcomes this announcement and calls on both sides of government to outline their plans to protect nature ahead of the State Election which is only a few short weeks away.

Queensland Conservation Council Protected Areas Campaigner Nicky Moffat said:

We strongly welcome these new protected areas, which will benefit wildlife but also Queenslanders who enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle, and First Nations peoples whose country they are on.

Safe havens in national parks where rangers will monitor and protect native populations like northern quolls are vitally important.

The endangered northern quoll is being driven perilously close to extinction by feral cats, habitat loss and degradation by competing land uses including cattle grazing.

The northern quoll is a captivating species, our smallest and most endangered quoll. Despite sharp teeth and a feisty attitude, it’s no match for the predators of feral cats, cane toads or bulldozers.

It is an expert hunter and does a great job keeping pests like small rodents at bay, but sadly while it was once common across northern Australia its populations are dwindling.

Today’s announcement is positive for Queensland’s nature, people and the economy.

We need more jobs in nature to protect our iconic native plants and animals, like those offered by national park ranger programs.

It’s great to see the expansion of the protected areas estate for the conservation of threatened plants and animals - but local communities are the biggest winners in this decision.

Studies show that investing $1 in Queensland’s national parks creates at least $6 in economic benefits through hospitality and tourism.

We look forward to hearing more from the State Opposition on their plans to protect nature in Queensland, including expanding and funding our national parks, stopping out of control deforestation, and tackling the extinction crisis across the state.

Protect the Bush Alliance Chair Sheena Gillman said:

These are significant areas not only for iconic species but for their contribution to bird assemblages and the protection of threatened plant communities.

We congratulate the Premier and Department of Environment, Science and Innovation for the many recent announcements which extend the protected areas estate.