Koalas and other wildlife on a private property in Ipswich are set to be further protected through a landmark Voluntary Conservation Covenant between Ipswich City Council and landholders.
Mayor, Teresa Harding said Council’s signing of its first Voluntary Conservation Covenant with the owners of the sprawling, gumtree-laden property in Purga was an exciting step forward for local conservation efforts.
“Some of our city’s highest value environmental areas are on private land, and a Voluntary Conservation Covenant is a way for council to join with landholders to protect native flora and fauna,” Mayor Harding said.
The covenant protects the land for conservation purposes in perpetuity, meaning it is binding for the current and future landowners and is recognised under Queensland’s Land Title Act 1994.
“It will ensure the land remains home to its koala population, as well as a range of other native animals seen on the property, including echidnas, bandicoots, sugar gliders, possums, dunnarts, kingfishers, kites, eagles, wrens and owls,” the Mayor said.
Under the covenant arrangements, Council will provide the landowner with support to rehabilitate the land in line with its ecological values through measures such as tree planting, weed management and holistic property management through a property management plan.
“I want to thank landholder Sam and her husband for their commitment to the local environment and protection of the koalas and other wildlife on their property,” said Mayor Harding.
“The property is in a strategically important location for the conservation of koala population as being adjacent to federally recognised Areas of Regional Koala Significance, as well as other like-minded landholders who are undertaking conservation works in this area.
“Conservation efforts like these make Ipswich a great place to live, where iconic native flora and fauna thrive in our city and can be enjoyed by residents and visitors.”
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson, Councillor Jim Madden said the Voluntary Conservation Covenant was being funded through the Ipswich Enviroplan Levy.
“The Landholder Conservation Partnerships Program empowers landholders to achieve their conservation goals, and supports the ongoing improvement of these areas, from revegetation to weed and pest control, for a greener future,” Cr Madden said.
“Through this program, we are pleased to provide Sam with a Voluntary Conservation Covenant Bursary, which is being used to enhance the land – some of which has been overgrazed in the past – with new immature and semi-mature trees to grow into homes for native wildlife, including its koala population.
“With funds raised through council’s Enviroplan Levy, we have acquired close to 7,000 hectares of land for environmental purposes across Ipswich over almost 30 years, with efforts continuing to purchase more land.
“These land acquisitions coupled with the Voluntary Conservation Partnership program means we have the mechanisms to ensure ecologically important land is preserved from loss and mismanagement.”
Division 1 Councillor, Pye Augustine said the Purga property, in Ipswich’s rural south-west, featured endangered blue gum and other remnant forest, as well as paddock areas that are being revegetated to return to their natural state.
“A Voluntary Conservation Covenant provides landholders with certainty that the time, effort and money they have invested in conservation will be permanently respected,” Cr Augustine said.
The Voluntary Conservation Covenant covers 9.16 hectares of the rural property, meaning the landholders are able to use some of the land for their own purposes.
“The focus has been restoring and buffering the creekline, which provides a vital movement corridor for koalas and other wildlife through the landscape,” said Division 1 Councillor, Jacob Madsen.
Landholder, Sam said thousands of trees have been planted to turn paddocks that had been overgrazed for decades into further habitat for koalas and other wildlife.
“The Voluntary Conservation Covenant means we are doing all this work for wildlife, and we can protect it for the future,” she said.
She said much of the restoration work on the property had been done in collaboration with Queensland Trust for Nature and Healthy Land & Water, with Ipswich City Council also providing valuable support and advice.
Voluntary Conservation Covenants are part of Ipswich City Council’s Landholder Conservation Partnerships program.
Biodiversity Conservation Agreements and Corridor Conservation Agreements previously signed with landholders under the Landholder Conservation program cover approximately 6,900 hectares of land across Ipswich.
Landholders interested in conservation can find out more here.
