Here's some good news for the Sunshine State. The number of national parks in Queensland has increased by two.
The State Government has formally dedicated The Lakes National Park near Hughenden and Malbon Thompson Range National Park near Cairns.
Both properties were acquired and added to the protected areas estate in recognition of their outstanding natural and cultural values.
The Lakes, a former cattle property, was acquired by the government in 2022 through a partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), which brokered contributions from international philanthropic organisations, the Wyss Foundation and the Art into Acres initiative through Re:wild (private US charitable foundations).
TNC committed $2.7 million to the purchase.
The Lakes is home to four hypersaline watercourses, classified as Wetlands of High Ecological Significance. These watercourses provide critical habitat for many species of waterbirds while protecting the headwaters of the South Gregory River – which feeds into the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
The property is also home to unique species like the giant burrowing cockroach and two newly discovered species of clam-shrimp, which are only found in this national park’s lakes.
Part of the 43,000 hectare property estate covers a portion of Gudjala First Nations peoples’ traditional Country.
Malbon Thompson Range National Park is located about 35km south-east of Cairns and covers 620 hectares of undisturbed coastal lowlands, covered by rainforests interspersed with kauri pines and eucalypts.
Sitting adjacent to Malbon Thompson Forest Reserve, the dedication of the new national park enables permanent protection of a major environmental corridor spanning about 37 kilometres between Yarrabah and south to the mouth of the Russell River in the internationally-recognised Wet Tropics World Heritage area.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will progressively open both new parks to visitors over the coming years as preparations are finalised.
Eighteen other national parks have also been formally expanded, with the land expansions, including the two new national parks, totalling more than 59,000 hectares.
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