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| West Coolum Wetland |
In a
new win for the environment on the Sunshine Coast, an additional
120ha of wetland and grassland has been acquired by the Sunshine
Coast Council for protection as environmental reserve. This brings
the total area of wetland and associated habitats in the heart of
Australia’s tenth largest city to be protected to 1,700ha.
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| West Coolum Wetland (foreground) with newly acquired area above (Sunshine Coast Council pic) |
The new area adjoins the Sunshine Coast Motorway behind Coolum and
as with other acquisitions in recent years, it is former sugar cane
land. The wetlands were created by the inundated of tidal waters
following the collapse of floodgates after much of the region’s
cane farming ended with the closure of the Nambour sugar mill two
decades ago. Although human-modified, the wetlands are not dissimilar
to those which occurred naturally around the Maroochy River
floodplain prior to the development of cane farms a century ago.
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| West Coolum Wetland |
The latest acquisition more than doubles the size of what I have
dubbed the West
Coolum Wetland, a 90ha site acquired by the council in 2011 but
not made a reserve until 2020. These acquisitions effectively expand
the 190ha Yandina Creek Wetland, purchased by Unitywater in 2016 as
part of the corporation's nutrient offsets program following a
lengthy campaign to save the area from development. These and other
acquisitions, along with the Coolum Creek Environment Reserve, are
the backbone of the Blue Heart project - a joint endeavour by the
council, the Queensland Government and Unitywater to protect and
restore Maroochy River floodplain wetlands.
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| Royal Spoonbill |
Sunshine Coast councillor Maria Suarez said of the latest land
purchase: “This is another example of what’s exciting about Blue
Heart: benefits for biodiversity; creating nature-based recreation
opportunities; and increasing opportunities for Council’s ongoing
Blue Carbon investigations and trials.” The $6 million land
purchase was secured through the SEQ City Deal, a long-term
partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government
and Council of Mayors (SEQ) that allocated $35.3 million to Blue
Heart.
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| West Coolum Wetland |
The West Coolum Wetland provides habitat for a range of wetland
and grassland wildlife species. During a brief visit this week I
found good numbers of Little Grassbird and Spotless Crake, both
relatively uncommon in South-East Queensland. Egrets, cormorants,
spoonbills and herons were among the waterbirds present. Dollarbirds
and an Australian Hobby perched on nearby overhead wires.
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| Dollarbird |
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| Australian Hobby |
The news is not all good, however. The council has given property
development giant Stockland preliminary approval to build a 450-lot
housing estate on the Maroochy River floodplain at Twin Waters. The
development will result in the destruction of a fine swathe of
grassland and a much-needed green space in the midst of a rapidly
expanding urban footprint in the area. To say nothing of yet more
housing developments in flood-prone sites. It says something that
Stockland is required to provide an evacuation centre for residents
to escape to in the event of flooding.
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| Spotless Crake |
Across the motorway from Stockland’s project on Godfreys Road is
the council’s next important test. Another area of excellent
grassland there provides habitat for several rare species including
the Eastern Grass Owl. (More
on the owls here.) The council is presently determining whether
to convert the grassland to sporting facilities or protect it as a
reserve.
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| Eastern Grass Owl |
