Instead of accommodating a townhouse development, the lots on Carrara Street, Mt Gravatt East will continue to provide safe passage for koalas. This, after the Brisbane City Council moved to purchase the block through the Bushland Acquisition Program.
The move to acquire the two parcels of land at 68 Carrara Street and 8 Nurran Street was celebrated by locals who have been fighting against the proposed townhouse development on the block. In a Facebook post, they felt the success in the campaign they started, celebrating the feeling of being heard.
In a statement, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said that the land purchase will add to over 400 hectares of native bushland acquired in the last two years.
“This 4,320 square-metre parcel of land sits right in the middle of a koala corridor that runs between Toohey Forest, Whites Hill Reserve and the Mt Gravatt Lookout and will prove invaluable to the local koala population that is known to move through this area,” Cr Quirk said.
Cr Quirk noted that the land acquisition is part of the Council’s plan to fast-track 10 years of bushland purchase into four years.
“All of the land chosen for purchase contributes to the rich tapestry of Brisbane’s ecology, with acquired sites including koala movement corridors, locations with rare and endangered plants and animals or freshwater and wetland habitats,” he said.
Councillor Krista Adams said it was disappointing that the area was privately cleared in the first place. However, with the decision of the Council to obtain and revegetate the land, local wildlife has a better chance for safe passage.
“Council has a strong record when it comes to protecting our native wildlife, including a comprehensive koala detection program, 4,000 hectares of acquired bushland as well as a koala research centre to understand the genetic diseases these species face,” she said.
After the block is obtained, it will be revegetated with a range of plants, including fast-growing Eucalypt.