Southern Russell Island Conservation Park
Proposal for a new Southern Russell Island Conservation Park
Redland City Council is proposing a new conservation park on southern Russell Island that weaves around existing homes to protect wetland areas. The park will showcase these unique wetland areas and provide recreational opportunities for islanders and visitors.
At its Planning and Policy Committee Meeting on Wednesday 27 October 2010, Council endorsed a broad proposal for the creation of a new Conservation Park on Russell Island to be referred to the state government.
The Southern Russell Island Conservation Park would be made up of the highly significant Whistling Kite Wetlands, Turtle Swamp Wetlands, Water Mouse Wetland and Melomy’s Wetlands.
The proposal is in response to the state government’s call for 'ideas from local government' to ensure that in 2020, approximately 50 per cent more land is protected for nature conservation and public recreation in Queensland. This is a unique opportunity to work with the state government to develop a conservation park, and demonstrate Council’s commitment to the long-term protection and management of these important wetlands.
Past land acquisitions by Council, including under the Environmental Separate Charge, have resulted in a high proportion of Council ownership of lots within the four wetlands areas. Council proposes transferring ownership of all its freehold land within the area to the state for the creation of the conservation park.
Council will request that the state government acquire other undeveloped (and undevelopable) freehold land within the new conservation park boundary, as well as undertaking road closures and land amalgamation to create a consolidated land parcel for management purposes.
The Redland Planning Scheme 2006 included the majority of lots in the four wetland areas within the Conservation zone, to recognise the significant conservation values and major drainage constraints that make these areas unsuited for residential development.
The park layout weaves around existing homes and neighbourhoods to exclude them from this conservation park. All developed freehold land would remain outside the new conservation park. This means that residents currently living in these locations would not be included in acquisitions, road closures or amalgamations.
The proposal would create the Southern Russell Island Conservation Park gradually and in stages. In the first stage, Council will first seek state government endorsement for the broad proposal. After this, community consultation will be conducted to ensure that Russell Island residents and landowners can contribute to the next stages in development of this proposal. The area and boundaries may be refined as a detailed proposal is developed.
For more information, ph 3829 8999.