Million dollar farm snapped up by the council

RATEPAYERS have purchased a $1.2 million tract of hinterland farming property to extend the footprint of a popular Coast reserve.

RESERVE EXPANDED: Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson and Cr Jenny McKay celebrate the purchase of a $1.2 million tract of land beside Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. Picture: Stuart Cumming

RATEPAYERS have purchased a $1.2 million tract of hinterland farming property to extend the footprint of a popular Coast reserve.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the 26.8 hectare property, which runs from Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve's north-eastern boundary through to Landsborough Maleny Rd, would prove valuable to future generations.

"That's a sizeable sum of money, however, into the future, that'll be considered a modest investment in my view," Cr Jamieson said.

The purchase comes after the council also bought land at Burgess Ave in Maleny, 27.5 hectares of land in the foothills of Buderim and 4.8 hectares of land in Buderim.

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve's footprint was 55 hectares before the neighbouring land was recently purchased.

"We are fortifying and adding to what already is a strong conservation estate here and that will be to the benefit of everybody who calls the Sunshine Coast home, not to mention the millions of visitors who come here every year," Cr Jamieson said.

The purchases were funded by the council's environment levy.

Cr Jamieson said the council had allocated about $9.3 million from the levy this year to conservation projects in the region.

"For us to be able to act and make these sort of purchases we need to have the available funds," Cr Jamieson said.