MEDIA RELEASE

 

Greening Australia Delivers Rehabilitation Program at North Harbour

1 December 2009

 

Respected national environmental group Greening Australia will rehabilitate a large tract of degraded pine and cane plantation land near Caboolture as part of new deal with Northeast Business Park, developers of North Harbour.

The North Harbour master plan will see almost half of the 769 hectare site preserved as open space and environmental buffer zones and Northeast Business Park Chief Executive Jeff Smith said Greening Australia had been enlisted to ensure the best possible environmental outcome for the first part of that work.

According to Greening Australia CEO Rod Bristow the partnership will deliver a three year environmental rehabilitation program beginning in early 2010 and invest more than $600,000 on the first 90 hectares of rehabilitation.“

The area requires extensive weed management and revegetation to increase the ecological and habitat values, improve water quality in the Caboolture River and establish an aesthetic and functional open space,” Mr Bristow said.

The rehabilitation is part of North Harbour’s $628 million  development which will see the creation of a residential and business park precinct, a marina and golf course and Jeff Smith said that his team was committed to creating a healthy, diverse and sustainable environment which would be treasured by North Harbour residents and visitors alike.

“We want to create an open space everyone can enjoy, while retaining and preserving regional native flora and fauna.

“Northeast Business Park and Greening Australia are looking forward to the opportunity to work closely with various community groups, local nurseries, the NEBP Community Consultation Committee and Moreton Bay Regional Council residents to deliver environmental and social benefits for the community and future generations,” Mr Smith said.

Key initiatives of the rehabilitation program include:

  • Retention of significant trees and native bushland;
  • Planting of up to 100,000 eucalypts and other Australian native saplings which could provide a future habitat for threatened species such as koalas;
  • Inclusion of a perfumed garden which will add aesthetic value to the site;
  • A riverine buffer zone and wetland areas designed to accommodate wildlife habitats;
  • Potential inclusion of wildlife corridors and bird watching hides;Provision of bird and possum nesting boxes;
  • Environmental buffer zones along the Caboolture River and creek banks; and
  • Significant open space for residents and visitors.

 

The Northeast Business Park Community Consultation Committee will oversee the implementation of all rehabilitation works.