Council urged to buy land to link wildlife habitats in Brisbane’s northern suburbs

A Brisbane wildlife group has devised a plan to boost the benefits of existing wildlife reserves and help several species survive in suburbia.

A red neck wallaby and joey at McDowall. Photo: K.R.Anderson

A WILDLIFE group is urging Brisbane City Council to seize the chance to create a wildlife corridor linking key habitats in the north west and boost the survival chances of several species locally.

McDowall Wildlife Preservation Group has put a plan to council for it to purchase several blocks either side of Beckett Rd, Bridgeman Downs.

MWPG spokesman Ken Anderson said there was a window of opportunity to secure a world-class wildlife corridor between Cabbage Tree Creek (Mountains To Mangroves Corridor) and the Dawn Rd Reserve, and beyond.

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Mr Anderson said linking habitats had many benefits including promoting breeding and genetic diversity, giving access to more water and food sources, and making it easier to avoid predators. The use of tunnels and rope bridges under and over roads would also reduce vehicle strikes, he said.

Mr Anderson said the area was home to swamp and red neck wallabies, koalas, gliders, goannas/monitors, water dragons, echidnas, frogs, platypus and snakes.

It was also home to notable bird species.

McDowall Wildlife Preservation Group wants Brisbane City Council to buy the blocks shaded green to link existing wildlife reserves. Photo: K.R.Anderson and McDowall Wildlife Preservation Group

Labor’s candidate for McDowall Liam Culverhouse supported the idea in principle.

“It’s one of those corridors that should be preserved,” Mr Culverhouse said.

But, he said he would have to see how much money was in the council’s bushland acquisition fund, if he was elected in March.

Councillor Tracy Davis (LNP, McDowall) said she had seen the proposal and looked forward to discussing it with the MWPG.

“Residents are the eyes in our suburbs and it is fantastic to have such a passionate group of people within the ward looking out for our wildlife and helping council identify opportunities to better protect it,” Cr Davis said.

MWPG has a petition online at https://www.epetitions.brisbane.qld.gov.au/petition/view/pid/829