Ecological park proposed for Maleny by Sunshine Coast Council

An ecological park that could restore some of the Sunshine Coast’s natural forests and wetlands has had its master plans released. Take a look at the proposed transformation.

An example of a treehouse lining the treetop bridges. Artist impression.

Master plans for an ecological park that could restore some of the Sunshine Coast’s natural forests and wetlands have been released.

Sunshine Coast Council has put a master plan forward with a way to restore grazing land back to rainforest and wetlands in Maleny.

Included in the master plan is two treetop bridges and a forest lookout over the Glass House Maintains.

The 65ha spot has been bought by the council with plans for visitors to be able to experience the ecological restoration of an area that was formerly used for cattle grazing which lies adjacent to the existing Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve at Maleny.

One of the two treetop bridges. Artist impression.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the proposed project would restore pre-colonisation rainforests and wetlands, but it would take decades for the ecosystem function to recover and flourish.

“In 30 years and beyond, council wants our next generations to benefit from the decisions we make today,” he said.

“Over time, we’ll have the privilege of watching the ecosystems in this park recover as species return.”

Sunshine Coast councillor Peter Cox, who also manages the environment and liveability portfolio, said the project had come out of work done in 2017 around environmental and liveability initiatives.

“We need to make decisions today that benefit our community in the future, so that’s what we are seeking to do,” he said.

He said that a longstanding recreational area in the Maleny area called the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve had been extremely popular and that they were thinking of plans for expansion.

“We've acquired that land in the last few years and now we are going through the planning.”

Maleny Dairies owner Ross Hopper said he saw no harm in council acquiring land for this purpose.

“I've got no dramas with it and it should be an asset to the community,” he said.

“It's good to see council investing in green spaces.

“A lot of green spaces have disappeared in Maleny in my lifetime so it’s good to see that it will be kept.”