Cooloolabin rainforest under threat; acquisition proposal to Sunshine Coast Council

Cooloolabin rainforest (above) The Sunshine Coast Council is being asked to acquire a privately owned tract of subtropical lowland rainforest following the recent destruction of native vegetation in the critically endangered habitat. The area is one of the largest remaining tracts of lowland rainforest in the Sunshine Coast council area and provides habitat for several rare bird species. It falls within the catchment of Wappa Dam, an important water storage for the region.

Two lot plans (RP 26965 and RP 901254) comprising 21 hectares of forested land abut Shrapnel Road and Cooloolabin Road (above) in the hinterland suburb of Cooloolabin. The land is registered under Land for Wildlife, a program which although voluntary, obliges landholders to manage habitat on their properties for native plants and animals.

The area was logged historically, with axe scarfs (above) still evident on huge tree stumps, but has not been logged for many years. Recently, several large trees were felled and other native vegetation was bulldozed for firebreaks in the rainforest remnant (below).

Subtropical lowland rainforest is listed as critically endangered by the federal government. Once widespread in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales, it has been reduced by land-clearing to isolated fragments. As elsewhere, very little of the habitat survives around the Sunshine Coast. The Cooloolabin forest (below) is one of the finest tracts of lowland rainforest remaining in the region. It embraces a freshwater stream and vigorous stands of piccabeen palm, strangler fig, rose gum and other rainforest/wet sclerophyll forest trees. The rainforest tract abuts the 10,064-hectare Mapleton National Park which, although including little similar habitat, would help ensure its long-term viability.

The Cooloolabin forest is unusually rich in birdlife. Rainforest species which are scarce or absent elsewhere in the region are found there regularly and several species are resident.

For instance, the Superb Fruit-Dove (above) is a rare visitor generally to south-east Queensland but it occurs annually in Cooloolabin in small numbers. Other fruit-eating rainforest pigeons, such as the beautiful Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove (first image below) and Wompoo Fruit-Dove (second image) are common. Bird images here were taken at Cooloolabin.

The smartly plumaged White-eared Monarch (first image below) is a scarce inhabitant of lowland rainforest. Several pairs reside at Cooloolabin, where it can be reliably seen alongside its rainforest-loving close relatives, the Spectacled Monarch (second image below) and Black-faced Monarch.

Other uncommon wet forest birds include Barred Cuckooshrike, Regent Bowerbird and Crested Shrike-tit (below).

The property would require little maintenance as it is generally free of weeds other than lantana on its periphery, while the lush rainforest has resisted incursion by fire. The Sunshine Coast Council is being asked to purchase the land under its Land Acquisition Program, funded by council’s Environment Levy. The property could be subdivided by the council to allow an existing residence to remain, along with its access road.