Acquiring natural areas
Through Our Natural City Strategy we are committed to connecting the natural environment network and working towards our target of 51% native vegetation cover. The Natural Areas Acquisition, Koala Habitat and future Environmental Offset Acquisition programs are ways we work towards these targets.
We purchase important land to:
- connect natural areas
- protect priority species habitat (plants and animals)
- secure and restore wildlife corridors across the city.
These programs complement other City-driven initiatives, such as private land partnerships and natural area reserve management, to protect and restore habitat across both private and public land.
To date, we have acquired 10 properties, covering 659 hectares.
Mount Nathan
143 hectares | Acquired July 2025
Purpose
- Consolidate existing City conservation estate
- Link natural areas within Wongawallan to Southern Moreton Bay wildlife corridor, including Nerang National Park and Lower Beechmont Conservation Area
- Provide habitat for priority species, such as Glossy Black Cockatoos and Koalas
- Enhance vegetation through restoration and potential offsets
Pimpama
146.3 hectares | Acquired November 2024
Purpose
- Potential to help connect habitat for koalas and other priority species
- Suitable for well-located potential environmental offsets
- Link natural areas that we manage
- Location within the Wongawallan to Southern Moreton Bay corridor and Northern Koala Corridor
Tallebudgera Valley
13.4 hectares | Acquired November 2024
Purpose
- Safeguard habitat for koalas and other priority species including many rare and endangered plants
- Secure and connect two Council parks, consolidating wildlife habitat
- Connect and strengthen the Burleigh to Springbrook wildlife corridor, allowing for improved wildlife movement
This is our latest part-acquisition for the environment. Part-acquisition means we purchase the environmentally significant areas only, leaving the house and surrounding buildings in private ownership.
Maudsland
5.7 hectares | Acquired July 2024
Purpose
- Protect habitat for koalas and other priority and threatened species including the glossy black cockatoo, sooty owl and tusked frog
- Link natural areas that we manage, allowing for improved wildlife movement
- Enhance vegetation within a large patch of urban native vegetation
- Helps connect habitat in the Southern Moreton Bay to Clagiraba wildlife corridor
Wongawallan
93 hectares | Acquired December 2023
Purpose
- Protect important priority species vegetation and koala habitat
- Link 4-four natural areas that we manage to create one large habitat (more than 700 hectares)
- Helps connect natural areas within the Wongawallan to Southern Moreton Bay wildlife corridor
Tallebudgera Valley
9.9 hectares | Acquired August 2023
Purpose
- Protect important priority species vegetation and koala habitat
- Link existing natural areas that we manage
- Helps connect habitat within the Burleigh to Springbrook wildlife corridor
Norwell
190 hectares | Acquired June 2023
Purpose
- Suitable for well-located potential environment offsets
- Potential to help connect habitat for koalas and other priority species
- Location within the Wongawallan to Southern Moreton Bay wildlife corridor and Northern Koala Corridor
Pimpama
19 hectares | Acquired October 2022
Purpose
- Connect habitat for glossy black cockatoos and the endangered East Coomera koala priority species
- Connect a major wildlife underpass on the Pacific Motorway M1 to improve safe movement between conservation areas
- Improve the health of the Pimpama River
- Helps connect habitat within the Wongawallan to Southern Moreton Bay wildlife corridor
Tallebudgera
37.5 hectares | Acquired April 2022
Purpose
- Protect priority species vegetation, including koala habitat
- Link natural areas that we manage with private conservation areas
- Ensure movement of koalas from Elanora and Tallebudgera through to the Tallebudgera and Currumbin valleys
- Helps connect habitat within the Currumbin to Springbrook wildlife corridor
Burleigh Heads
1.2 hectares | Acquired December 2021
Purpose
- Conserve and restore vegetation and koala habitat
- Ensuring movement of koalas from Burleigh Headland to the hinterland
- Link existing natural areas we manage
- Helps connect habitat within the Burleigh to Springbrook wildlife corridor and the planned wildlife underpass under the Pacific Motorway M1
Funding
The Natural Areas Acquisition and Koala Habitat Acquisition programs are funded by our Open Space including Koala Habitat Maintenance and Enhancement Separate Charge as part of Council property rates.