Another 43,000 hectares of land across Queensland is now protected, the Palaszczuk Government has announced.

Acting Premier Steven Miles said it included additions to National Parks including D'Aguilar, Lamington, Main Range and Oakview.

“Combined, our national parks, nature refuges and other protected areas cover 14.3 million hectares – that’s an area double the size of Tasmania,” Mr Miles said.

“This is part of our commitment to expanding and protecting our National parks and Queensland’s great lifestyle.”

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the mix of new and expanded nature refuges as well as additions to a number of national parks had been formally dedicated and equalled an area the size of some 430,000 Olympic swimming pools.

“But we know there’s more work to do, which is why the Palaszczuk Government is investing $262.5 million to expand and create new national parks – the single biggest investment in Queensland’s history,” Minister Scanlon said.  

“It’s great to see this batch include a number of nature refuges, areas that Queensland landholders have nominated to protect the critical ecosystems, plants and creatures that live within it.”

Minister Scanlon said the areas formally declared are:

• Ardgour Station Nature Refuge (Paroo) – a new nature refuge of 8285.98 hectares
• Boreen Nature Refuge (Noosa) – a new nature refuge of 51.53 hectares
• Galaji Nature Refuge (Tablelands) – a 5.35-hectare addition to an existing nature refuge
• Keysii Nature Refuge (Noosa) – a new nature refuge of 35.3 hectares
• Mount Mellum Nature Refuge (Sunshine Coast) – a 10.32-hectare addition to an existing nature refuge
• Mount Gibson Nature Refuge (Cook) – a new nature refuge of 34,206.07 hectares
• Noo's Creek Nature Refuge (Cook) – a new nature refuge of 82.25 hectares
• Oakey Scrub Nature Refuge (Cook) – a new nature refuge of 64.7497 hectares
• Weyba Nature Refuge (Noosa) – a 121.53-hectare addition to an existing nature refuge
• Yourka Reserve Nature Refuge (Tablelands) – a 1,545.97 addition to an existing nature refuge
• Yurol Nature Refuge (Noosa) – a 5.11-hectare addition to an existing nature refuge
• D'Aguilar National Park (Somerset) – increased by 52.5 hectares
• Lamington National Park (Scenic Rim) – increased by 129.9 hectares
• Main Range National Park (Southern Downs) – increased by 56 hectares
• Oakview National Park (Dedication) (Gympie) – increased by 92.13 hectares.
• Townsville Town Common Conservation Park (Townsville City) – increased by 0.2 hectares

For more information on Queensland’s budget for the environment, including the record national parks investment visit: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/95473

Vision of Mt Gibson Nature Refuge available here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2eynt2iq3hwdlqi8hh78w/h?dl=0&rlkey=c7o1nbobxgli9ojkmur8q6tns

ENDS

Media contact:

Amy Hunter – 0423 651 484 (Acting Premier)

Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078 (Minister Scanlon)