Have your say on the Noosa North Shore Landing Ground Reserve

Issued: 17 Apr 2023

The Department of Environment and Science (DES) is seeking the community's input on the future tenure and management options of the Noosa North Shore Landing Ground for Aircraft Reserve.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Regional Director Stephen Price said the Noosa North Shore Landing Ground Reserve was a unique and environmentally sensitive site surrounded by Cooloola section of Great Sandy National Park.

“The landing ground reserve, which was previously managed by the Noosa Shire Council, is now under DES’s trusteeship through QPWS,” Mr Price said.

Mr Price said the landing ground reserve had long been recognised for its environmental significance.

This significance includes that the landing ground reserve is:

  • Essential habitat for endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened wildlife including for the vulnerable Eastern Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus), as well as a number of threatened frog and migratory bird species.
  • Listed as a High Ecological Significance Wetland
  • 44% of the area is also listed as Koala habitat
  • Provides strong connectivity to the surrounding Great Sandy National Park.

The cleared area of the landing ground reserve has formerly been used for a variety of authorised aircraft, including hobby activities of hang gliding, para gliding, microlighting, and model aircraft flying.

Noosa Shire Council closed the airstrip in 2014 to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and the hobby activities were allowed to continue under authorities that have since expired.

“DES has committed to undertake community consultation on the reserve’s future use and management arrangements,” Mr Price said.

“The local community is encouraged to participate in an online survey to help inform the future use and tenure preferences for the site.”

Access the survey, closing 12 May 2023.