Landmark national park management plan for Minjerribah

Issued: 18 Sep 2020

A landmark plan to conserve Minjerribah’s (North Stradbroke Island) protected areas has been approved by the Queensland Government and the island’s Traditional Owners – the state’s first jointly developed national park management plan.

Deputy Director-General of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships (QPWS&P) Ben Klaassen said QPWS and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) had worked together to develop a plan to protect the natural and cultural values of Minjerribah’s protected areas.

“The plan sets out key priorities for the joint management of the Naree Budjong Djara National Park and Conservation Park, Myora Conservation Park, Main Beach Conservation Park and the Minjerribah Recreation Area,” Mr Klaassen said.

“The management plan identifies the park’s key values and significant features and threats to those values, and outlines how QPWS and QYAC will work together to manage visitor issues and identify new tourism opportunities.

“QPWS and QYAC are committed to jointly protecting the lands and culture of Minjerribah, the world’s second largest sand island and home to a number of threatened and endangered species.

“It’s vital we protect the island’s cultural and natural values whilst also catering for the needs of the tourism industry, and I believe the management plan delivers on this.

“The plan has been produced using a values-based planning framework that is built on international best-practice standards.

“Naree Budjong Djara means ‘My Mother Earth’ to the Quandamooka people, and their connection to Minjerribah remains strong.”

QYAC CEO Cameron Costello said the management plan involved Traditional Owners caring for country, as they have for generations past, guaranteeing the area would remain a pristine sanctuary.

“We’re investing in Quandamooka rangers, building improved walking tracks for visitors and a range of improved visitor facilities, and the management plan reflects a strong partnership with QPWS,” he said

More than 50 per cent of Minjerribah is now protected as national park.

Naree Budjong Djara National Park is home to diverse habitats including mangroves, wetlands, endangered heathlands, freshwater lakes, rainforest, old-growth forests and open woodland.

The final national park management plan can be found online. More information on  Naree Budjong Djara National Park is available on the DES website.