In Sandy’s recent Noosa MP Community Survey, some residents expressed the below concerns regarding our local National Parks:

  • What are the future plans for the Noosa National Park?
  • How are we protecting habitat from urban development?
  • The shortage of park rangers in Noosa National Park
  • Why were the motorbike and 4-wheel drive tracks removed from the Tewantin National Park?

In response, we have received the following from the Queensland Minister for Environment:

Future plans for the Noosa National Park

  • The Noosa Area Management Plan gazetted in 2022 details how parks in the Noosa Area will be managed for the immediate future.
  • The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (the department), in partnership with the Kabi Kabi First Nations People, continues to work and engage with all key stakeholders to provide enhanced natural resources, cultural heritage and recreational management outcomes for the parks.
  • Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2020–2030 aims to expand a comprehensive, adequate and representative protected area system that protects samples of biodiversity from all biogeographical regions in the State. The acquisition program is currently targeting underrepresented or endangered regional ecosystems, the protection of threatened species, and wetlands and climate resilient landscapes.
  • The department will continue to work with stakeholders to grow the protected area estate in the Noosa Area as opportunities present. 
  • The Yurol and Ringtail Conservation Project is progressing well and will ultimately see an approximately 2400ha revegetated and added to the Tewantin National Park (NP).

Protecting habitat from urban development

  • National parks and conservation parks are managed in accord with the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (the NCA).
  • The department continues to build resilience within the parks through targeted fire, pest, visitor, and infrastructure management programs.
  • Prioritising capital investment into built infrastructure to manage visitor impacts has been critical to protecting key values and enhancing recreational opportunities for the growing population.
  • The department is investing in Friends of Parks, community conservation, and local Landcare groups by supporting various grant funding opportunities through State and Federal Governments. The department acknowledges the work these groups provide in assisting with managing pests in parks.
  • The department provides input into development applications where the department is a stakeholder to ensure that impacts to national parks are limited.

Park Rangers – Noosa National Park

  • The number of the local Noosa Area rangers has increased over the years.
  • The partnership with the Noosa Parks Association has enabled staff previously working behind a counter to be assigned to higher priority conservation functions across the parks and forests in the Noosa area.
  • The department invests in the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program, which continues to grow with four ranger positions being funded for Kabi Kabi this year (two hundred positions now statewide).

Tewantin National Park (former forestry area along McKinnon Drive)- motorbike and 4-wheel drive tracks

  • The Yurol Ringtail Conservation Project is focused on restoring and protecting core Koala habitat as well as other flora and fauna species.
  • A significant investment in tree planting is occurring, repairing road and track infrastructure, and establishing critical fire and pest programs is also underway.
  • The Tewantin NP is managed in accordance with an interim management statement and visitor strategy and provides for nature-based recreation.
  • The department has rationalised the track network to ensure that sensitive areas are protected and unregulated vehicle use, illegal dumping and track creation is discouraged.
  • The department will consider all users in the future management of the new sections of the national park.

For Noosa Electorate residents with further enquiries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 5319 3100 of via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au

Further information

For the full results of the recent Noosa MP Community Survey, please visit www.sandybolton.com/noosa-mp-community-survey-results-2023-2024

Our previous Noosa 360 updates regarding National Parks are available at www.sandybolton.com/category/national-parks

Further direct advocacy regarding matters related to our environment can be directed to the Queensland Minster for Environment via environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.

Updates on many matters are available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360. Just use the handy search bar to find your topic of interest.