North Queensland grazing land to become large national park

More than 35,000 hectares of farmland west of Townsville will become National Park after a private company stumped up more than $1M.

MORE than 35,000ha of land west of Townsville will be converted to national park.

The former grazing property north of Hughenden is the biggest acquisition under the state government’s plan to protect 17 per cent of the state.

Conservation groups welcomed the move but pushed for more money to ensure the ambitious target was met.

Former pastoral property The Lakes will be converted to National Park after it was purchased by the Queensland government.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the purchase of The Lakes would ensure the future preservation of undisturbed ecosystems and would link up to an existing network of protected areas.

The Lakes has been purchased by the Queensland government.

Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030 is a 10-year plan to promote tourism and protect the environment across the state.

Conservation alliance Our Living Outback spokeswoman Hannah Schuch said the purchase was the first big acquisition under the plan and “a real change of gears” for the government. “Queensland is on the front lines of the biodiversity crisis and new, better-managed protected areas are part of the solution,” she said.

“This is what it will take to deliver the Protected Area Strategy and protect nature for future generations.”

The Lakes has been purchased by the Queensland government.

The government has not disclosed the price it paid for the land, citing commercial-in-confidence terms but Ms Scanlon said US charitable company The Wyss Foundation put $1.829m towards the multimillion-­dollar buy.

The Lakes straddles the Great Dividing Range and is within the Einasleigh Uplands and Gulf Plains Bioregions while also encompassing the headwaters of the South Gregory River, which feeds into the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

“These regions have plains, woodlands, escarpments, creeks, and unique high-altitude lakes that support a wide range of important flora and fauna,” Ms Scanlon said.

“As it transitions into a national park, we will also explore ways to make it accessible for visitors who will definitely want to experience the incredible lakes, birdlife and walks for themselves.”

The Queensland and North Queensland Conservation councils urged the government to increase funding to ensure big acquisitions continue.

When asked on Sunday, a government spokeswoman could not confirm how close the state was to reaching the 17 per cent target.

Originally published as North Queensland grazing land to become large national park