Four hundred parcels of precious bushland have now been secured by Council to protect Brisbane’s natural habitat for future generations.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the latest purchase under the Bushland Acquisition Program meant Council had preserved more than 4400 hectares of land since the program began in 1990 – equivalent to more than 590 Suncorp Stadiums.
“Brisbane has a reputation for being clean, green and sustainable and my team and I are determined to maintain and enhance that status,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Our city is also the most biologically diverse capital in Australia and as we grow, it’s critical we continue protect significant bushland and provide more places for our wildlife to flourish.”
Cr Schrinner said Council’s latest purchase was a 2400 square metre lot which expands the ecologically significant Rikki Bailey Park.
“Rikki Bailey Park is home to native wildlife, including kangaroos, squirrel gliders, Gould’s wattled bats and a variety of birds, reptiles and insects,” he said.
Cr Schrinner thanked the Rikki Bailey Park Bushcare Group for their outstanding work restoring and nurturing the park for more than a decade.
“The Bushland Acquisition Program preserves sites home to important natural habitat, wildlife or threatened species or parts of ecological corridors,” he said.
“We purchase these pockets of land to ensure they are protected for generations to come.”
The Bushland Acquisition Program is funded through the Bushland Preservation Levy, included as part of residents’ rates bills.
“Brisbane has about 38.9 per cent natural habitat cover across the city, and we’re working hard to achieve our goal of reaching 40 per cent by 2031,” Cr Schrinner said.
“When the world’s eyes fall on Brisbane for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, they will see not only a thriving, modern and prosperous city, but one that’s clean, green and sustainable.
“Our Bushland Acquisition Program is just one of the ways we are helping ensure Brisbane gets even better.”
Council protects more than 10,000 hectares of natural areas across Brisbane including bushland reserves, wetlands and forests.
