Joint media release
- 28 August 2009 - Another parcel of ecologically
significant land on the Sunshine Coast will
be preserved for future generations under
an agreement between the Sunshine Coast
Regional Council and the Australian Government.
Environment Minister
Peter Garrett said the Rudd Government is
pleased to help the council purchase two
properties at the junction of the Coolum
Creek and the Maroochy River with more than
$1.5 million in assistance through the Caring
for our Country program
“The National Reserve
System is one of Australia’s most effective
tools to safeguard our landscapes and native
species for future generations and the Rudd
Government has increased funding to this
vital program by four times what the previous
Government had committed,” Mr Garrett said.
“The purchase of these
properties helps create a nationally-significant
wildlife corridor along the Maroochy River,
to help protect a wide variety of plants
and animals, including several unique, rare
or endangered species – like the black-necked
stork, Australian painted snipe and false
water-rat.
“These 36 hectares are
a significant addition to Australia’s nation-wide
network of parks, reserves and private protected
areas.”
The purchase by Sunshine
Coast Regional Council adds to another two
blocks it has acquired, bringing the total
area managed by the council at the confluence
of Coolum Creek and the Maroochy River to
61 hectares.
Sunshine Coast Mayor
Bob Abbot said the Coolum Creek purchase
demonstrated council’s environment levy
and policy in action.
“The Environment Levy
policy enables us to purchase and protect
significant land in our region and attract
further funding from other levels of government,”
Cr Abbot said.
“The levy allows us
to set aside funds for this specific purpose
and ensures maximum transparency and accountability
because Sunshine Coast ratepayers can see
exactly how their money is being spent.”
For more information on the Environment
Levy visit www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
For more information on the National Reserve
System visit www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs
