Boost for Redlands Coast conservation

Redland City Council has boosted its commitment to conservation in its 2019-20 budget adopted today.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said this year’s Budget would invest $8.7 million into protecting and expanding the almost 9800 hectares of conservation land in community ownership.

“Redland City Council owns and manages more land on the community’s behalf than many of our neighbouring councils and this year’s Budget will see us continue to invest in growing and maintaining this vital asset,” Cr Williams said.

“This year our stocks of community–owned land were significantly boosted after we were able to finally secure the strategically important 61 hectares of Commonwealth-owned land at Birkdale.

“To be able to bring this land into Council-ownership after fighting to save it from housing for five years is a win for the community.”

Cr Williams said the stocks of local conservation land of environmental and ecological value had grown by 210ha since 2012.

“With the areas secured by Council in recent years, we now have almost 9800ha of conservation land, or about 18 percent of the Redlands Coast, owned by the community,” Cr Williams said.

“When you take in other green space managed by Council, the area grows to more than 10,340ha or just over 19 percent of our total land area. And that’s not including state-managed national parks and privately owned bushland.”

Cr Williams said this year’s Budget included a commitment to maintaining this land and managing the fire risks associated with owning this much land.

“Maintaining land on behalf of the community brings with it significant responsibility and it is one Council takes very seriously,” Cr Williams said.

“This responsibility has seen Council redirect funding from our landfill remediation separate charge to the environmental separate charge, helping to protect both our conservation land and our residents through fire mitigation.”

Cr Williams said the Budget would also continue to invest in Council’s 1 million plants initiative, which had so far seen 250,000 plants put in the ground by Council and local volunteers since 2016.

“Redlands Coast is blessed with an abundance of natural habitat and open space where people can connect with nature and enjoy an active and healthy Redlands Coast lifestyle,” she said.

“This budget invests in keeping this land in public ownership and maintaining it for future generations of Redlanders to enjoy.”

Go to redland.qld.gov.au/budget for full Budget information