Two new land purchases under the Sunshine Coast's Environment Levy

Sunshine Coast Council has purchased two more environment levy funded properties that are now protected for future generations.
The two properties in Cambroon and Ilkley cost almost $1.2 million and will add 87 hectares to the region’s conservation corridor network.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the new purchases show council’s ongoing commitment to the long-term protection of our natural environment.
“Both properties have exciting and unique attributes including rare and threatened species, endangered rainforests, waterways and vegetation,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“Sightings of koalas have already been reported at both reserves and the Cambroon site has the only known sighting of the rufous rat-kangaroo (rufous bettong) on the Sunshine Coast.
“Work is now underway on preparing tailored management plans for both properties to ensure the best possible environmental outcomes.
“These Environment Levy purchases are another example of council striving for the Sunshine Coast to become the most sustainable region in Australia.”
Sunshine Coast Environment Portfolio holder and local division councillor for both properties Jenny McKay said the purchases demonstrate how vital the Environment Levy is in preserving the Coast’s native plants and animals.
“The 27 hectare Cambroon site, ‘the Tuan Environmental Reserve’, is adjacent to the Maleny National Park and forms part of the largest core habitat in the region,” Cr McKay said.
“The reserve provides habitat for threatened animals like the Black Breasted Button Quail, the Glossy Black Cockatoo and other mammals such as the squirrel glider.
“In Ilkley, the ‘Tall Gums Environmental Reserve’ borders the existing Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens and the Tall Gum Nature Refuge, expanding the collective reserve to 170 hectares.
“This reserve forms part of a regional corridor stretching from the coast to the range —which is really important for wildlife movement.”
Further information
Tall Gums Environmental Reserve, Ilkley

•        Cost $890,000
•       60 hectares on the western side of the Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Ilkley.
•      Provides habitat suitable to:

•      Protects poorly conserved rainforest communities, including a critically endangered lowland rainforest community listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

 
Tuan Environmental Reserve, Chinaman Creek Road, Cambroon

•         Cost $300,000
•         27 hectares Chinaman Creek Road, Cambroon in the Mary River catchment.
•        ‘Tuan’ is the common name for the brushtailed phascogale which is a significant species found on the reserve.
•          Provides essential habitat suitable to:

•          Protects critical habitat for a very high diversity of mammals including significant species such as the brush-tailed phascogale (Tuan), yellow bellied glider, squirrel glider; rufous rat-kangaroo, and koalas.
•          Protects ecosystems which are not well represented within council’s conservation estate including a critically endangered lowland rainforest community listed under the Commonwealth _Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act _1999.