Nov2012_HOMES FOR KOALAS
Moreton Bay Regional Council has sent a funding application to the Queensland Government’s Nature Refuges Program to establish a koala refuge on land originally planned for housing in the Samford Valley.
Division 11 Councillor Bob Millar said council’s application covered more than 269 hectares of bushland incorporating Brian Burke Reserve in the Samford Valley.
Cr Millar said if council’s application was successful, the area would be known as the House Mountain Range Koala Nature Refuge.
“This is a significant commitment to koala conservation in Samford and the wider Moreton Bay Region,” Cr Millar said.
“The reserve covers a substantial area and will play an important role in future wildlife conservation.”
Cr Millar said the land proposed for the koala refuge was a mix of freehold council owned land and crown land held in trust by council.
“The freehold council owned lots were originally planned for housing but were acquired for preservation several years ago,” Cr Millar said.
“Council’s application includes a request for a $60,000 grant to revegetate, restore and combat weeds in parts of Brian Burke Reserve.
If the funding application is successful, more than 3,850 gum trees will be planted, providing an important green link between existing koala and wildlife habitats,” Cr Millar said.
“This project will also complement future upgrades to recreation trails within the reserve – ensuring residents have the opportunity to experience and enjoy our region’s environmental assets.”
The state government’s Koala Nature Refuges Program provides landholders in South East Queensland Koala Protection Areas with the opportunity to apply for financial assistance to revegetate, rehabilitate and manage koala habitat.
Funding is conditional upon entering into a binding, perpetual Nature Refuge Agreement to establish a nature refuge over all or part of the property.
“If the grant application is successful, the House Mountain Range Koala Nature Refuge will become part of a much larger body of work by council to help deliver a sustainable future for koalas in the Moreton Bay Region,” Cr Millar said.
Cr Millar said if council’s application was successful, the area would be known as the House Mountain Range Koala Nature Refuge.
“This is a significant commitment to koala conservation in Samford and the wider Moreton Bay Region,” Cr Millar said.
“The reserve covers a substantial area and will play an important role in future wildlife conservation.”
Cr Millar said the land proposed for the koala refuge was a mix of freehold council owned land and crown land held in trust by council.
“The freehold council owned lots were originally planned for housing but were acquired for preservation several years ago,” Cr Millar said.
“Council’s application includes a request for a $60,000 grant to revegetate, restore and combat weeds in parts of Brian Burke Reserve.
If the funding application is successful, more than 3,850 gum trees will be planted, providing an important green link between existing koala and wildlife habitats,” Cr Millar said.
“This project will also complement future upgrades to recreation trails within the reserve – ensuring residents have the opportunity to experience and enjoy our region’s environmental assets.”
The state government’s Koala Nature Refuges Program provides landholders in South East Queensland Koala Protection Areas with the opportunity to apply for financial assistance to revegetate, rehabilitate and manage koala habitat.
Funding is conditional upon entering into a binding, perpetual Nature Refuge Agreement to establish a nature refuge over all or part of the property.
“If the grant application is successful, the House Mountain Range Koala Nature Refuge will become part of a much larger body of work by council to help deliver a sustainable future for koalas in the Moreton Bay Region,” Cr Millar said.
