Landmark conservation agreement enhances Ipswich koala protection
A landmark new conservation agreement between council and landholders will enhance the protection of the Ipswich koala population.
The Voluntary Conservation Covenant is part of Ipswich City Council’s Landholder Conservation Partnerships program.
These partnerships are between Ipswich City Council and landholders of eco-rich areas to protect native wildlife living on private properties. Owners of a property in Purga, Ipswich’s rural south-west, were the first to sign a Voluntary Conservation Covenant.
Flora and Fauna Protection
Sam, whose property is home to endangered blue gum and remnant forest said that revegetation was underway on her property for wildlife habitation.
“The Voluntary Conservation Covenant means we are doing all this work for wildlife, and we can protect it for the future,” she said.
Ipswich is home to many gum tree-laden properties and privately owned high value environmental areas. These areas are habitats for native fauna like koalas, echidnas, bandicoots, sugar gliders, possums, dunnarts, kingfishers, eagles, and owls.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said conservation efforts like this one help protect Ipswich’s flora and fauna to thrive through conservation. The agreement aims to foster environmental advocacy and facilitate conservation to actively engage with landholders, council and community stakeholders.
“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,” she said.
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The covenant up-skills and supports landholders through providing education, resources and knowledge sharing. Through tree planting, weed management and holistic property management plans, this partnership helps to restore the land through ecological values.
The contracts are are binding for present and future landholders and recognised under the 1994 Queensland Land Title Act.
Environment and Sustainability Committee Councillor Jim Madden said the council’s Enviroplan Levy has bought 7000 hectares for conservation.
“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,” he said.
