The Land for Wildlife South East Queensland program has won the 2024 Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) Award for Excellence in the Collaboration category.
Toowoomba Region Parks and Recreation Services portfolio Councillor Tim McMahon congratulated the 13 local governments of South East Queensland (including Toowoomba Regional Council), and the thousands of enduring partners of the program for their long term collaboration.
“The Land for Wildlife South East Queensland program has created resilient structures of governance and avenues to share information, skills and knowledge while achieving a common goal of improved land conservation within their respective communities,” Cr McMahon said.
“A significant challenge facing biodiversity protection efforts in South East Queensland is that more than 50% of biodiversity values are on private land.
“To overcome this challenge, Council works with 12 other South East Councils to support private landholders’ land conservation efforts through Land for Wildlife South-East Queensland.
“The program has engaged with more than 5,600 residents in the South East Queensland area to manage wildlife habitat on their properties.
“It’s fantastic to see this impactful program being recognised by the Queensland branch of the LGMA for its effective collaboration between the many stakeholders involved.”
Land for Wildlife South East Queensland is fully funded and led by the participating Councils. The Councils include Brisbane City Council, City of Gold Coast, Gympie Regional Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City Council, City of Moreton Bay, Noosa Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Council and Toowoomba Regional Council.
Residents who own a property in the South East Queensland area with bushland on it or are prepared to reinstate bushland can sign up to the program through the Land for Wildlife South East Queensland website.
