Consultation on proposed amendments to the protected area estate

Closed
18 May 2026 11.59pm
Topic
Queensland parks and wildlife
Type
Public notice and consultation

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is proposing to make a number of amendments to the forestry and protected area estate and are seeking views in consideration of the Human Rights Act 2019, including Aboriginal peoples’ and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultural rights.

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is proposing to make a number of amendments to the forestry and protected area estate and is seeking views in consideration of the Human Rights Act 2019, including Aboriginal peoples’ and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultural rights.

The proposals include several redescriptions of parts of the forestry and protected area estate using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, for example, providing a more accurate area calculation or simplifying the lot on plan description using a new administrative plan, without changing the boundaries on-ground.

The aim of dedicating and declaring new or amending existing protected areas is to preserve, to the greatest extent possible, the area’s natural condition, to protect the area’s cultural resources and values and to provide for ecologically sustainable activities and ecotourism.

View map sketches of the proposed amendments (PDF, 5.3MB) .

The amendments proposed to be made are as follows:

Tenure Local Government Area Details of proposal
Durikai State Forest Southern Downs Regional

Goondiwindi Regional 		Redescribe Durikai State Forest, currently described as SF 444 on plan FTY1516 as: 
  • lots 443 and 444 on AP24075, containing a total area of about 12,354.75 hectares (ha) (a decrease of about 15.25 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 38 kilometres west of Warwick.
Curtis Island National Park Gladstone Regional Dedicate:
  • lots 8 and 11 on CP860464, containing a total area of about 713 ha, as part of Curtis Island National Park, about 19 kilometres north of Gladstone.
Most of the area is formerly part of Curtis Island Nature Refuge, which is proposed to be revoked to allow the areas to be dedicated as part of the national park. The land was acquired for addition to national park as it contains endangered and of concern regional ecosystems, significant wildlife refugia and areas of very high aquatic conservation significance.
Family Islands National Park Cassowary Coast Regional Redescribe Family Islands National Park, currently described as lot 422 on plan NPW615, lot 8 on AP22779 and lot 15 on AP22780 as:
  • lots 1 to 11 on AP23901, containing a total area of about 623.77 ha (a decrease of about 40.701 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 34 kilometres north-east of Cardwell.
Frankland Group National Park Cairns Regional Redescribe Frankland Group National Park, currently described as lot 1 on AP22302 and lot 420 on plan NPW613 as:
  • lots 1 to 5 on AP23893, containing a total area of about 85.39 ha (a decrease of about 11.17 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 47 kilometres south-east of Cairns.
Goodedulla National Park Rockhampton Regional Redescribe Goodedulla National Park, currently described as lot 16 on plan NPW598 and lot 2 on SP216433 as:
  • lot 1 on AP23991, containing an area of about 25,763.88 ha (a decrease of about 93.82 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 76 kilometres west of Rockhampton.
Goold Island National Park Cassowary Coast Regional Redescribe Goold Island National Park, currently described as lot 435 on plan NPW697 and lot 2 on plan USL38682 as:
  • lots 1 and 2 on AP23899, containing a total area of about 816.02 ha (a decrease of about 28.18 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 54 kilometres north-east of Ingham.
Isla Gorge National Park Banana Shire Redescribe Isla Gorge National Park, currently described as lot 30 on plan NPW493 as:
  • lot 30 on AP23964, containing an area of about 7,900.35 ha (an increase of about 50.35 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 200 kilometres south-west of Gladstone.
Miara National Park Bundaberg Regional Dedicate:
  • lot 134 on plan FD614, lot 492 on plan OL21, lot 517 on plan OL22 and lot 7 on SP149043, containing a total area of about 1,806.2186 ha, as the new Miara National Park, about 30 kilometres north-west of Bundaberg.
The areas contain of concern regional ecosystems, habitat for threatened species and wetlands of high ecological significance.
Noosa National Park Noosa Shire

Sunshine Coast Regional 		Redescribe Noosa National Park, currently described as lot 2 on SP161941, lot 2 on SP177651, lot 7 on SP104252 and lot 147 on plan NPW889, other than lot 11 on SP161940 as area to be excised from lot 147 on plan NPW889 as:
  • lots 1 to 12 on AP23967, containing a total area of about 2,892.25 ha (an increase of about 8.9136 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 16 kilometres north of Maroochydore.
Tewantin National Park Noosa Shire Redescribe Tewantin National Park, currently described as lots 2 to 4 on AP22502, lots 6 to 12 on AP22503, lots 1 to 3 on AP23630, lots 5 to 10 on AP23639 (other than lot 517 on SP346210), lots 1 to 4 and 13 on AP23640, lots 1 to 3 and 5 on AP23653, lots 1 and 5 on AP23654 and lots 13 and 14 on SP230058 as:
  • lots 1 to 7 on AP23894 and lots 13 and 14 on SP230058, containing a total area of about 5,545.5331 ha (a decrease of about 0.2 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 7 kilometres west of Noosa Heads.
Wooroonooran National Park Cairns Regional

Cassowary Coast Regional

Tablelands Regional 		Redescribe Wooroonooran National Park, currently described as lot 1 on AP14607, lot 30 on AP16251, lot 416 on AP16256, lot 19 on plan NPW970 (other than lots 2 to 4 on SP261140), lot 16 on plan NR3737, lot 288 on plan NR5622, lot 99 on SP230858, lot 5 on SP244397, lot 55 on plan USL21836, lot 32 on plan USL21839, lot 19 on plan USL21843 and lot 38 on plan USL21867 as:
  • lots 1 to 3 and 19 on AP23993, containing a total area of about 115,113.77 ha (a decrease of about 54.9125 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 28 kilometres north-west of Innisfail.
Noosa Resources Reserve Sunshine Coast Regional Redescribe Noosa Resources Reserve, currently described as lot 1015 on plan NPW888 as:
  • lot 13 on AP23967, containing an area of about 0.24 ha (an increase of about 0.02 ha), using contemporary survey and mapping technology and standards, about 15 kilometres north of Maroochydore.
Curtis Island Nature Refuge Gladstone Regional Revoke the entirety of Curtis Island Nature Refuge, described as:
  • lot 11 on and the part of lot 8 on CP860464, containing a total area of about 517 ha, shown on plan PA164, about 19 kilometres north of Gladstone.
The conservation agreement associated with this nature refuge has expired under its terms and the nature refuge is now proposed to be revoked and dedicated as part of Curtis Island National Park.
Herbertvale Nature Refuge Mount Isa City Declare:
  • part of lot 11 on CP854026, containing an area of about 30,304.17 ha, as part of the existing Herbertvale Nature Refuge; and subsequently
Redescribe the entirety of the nature refuge as:
  • the part of lot 11 on CP854026, containing an area of about 63,228.37 ha, shown on plan PA1225, about 260 kilometres north-west of Mount Isa.
The area provides catchment protection for Lawn Hill Creek and connectivity with the adjoining Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park and nearby Boodjamulla National Park (Aboriginal Land). The area has a complex mosaic of vegetation types described across 22 regional ecosystems and suitable habitat for threatened species including the Carpentarian grasswren and purple-necked rock-wallaby.
Norfolk Nature Refuge Mount Isa City Declare:
  • part of lot 2680 on CP883164, containing an area of about 45,164.65 ha, as part of the existing Norfolk Nature Refuge; and subsequently
Redescribe the entirety of the nature refuge as:
  • the part of lot 2680 on CP883164, containing an area of about 75,808.85 ha, shown on plan PA1226, about 200 kilometres north-west of Mount Isa.
The area provides catchment protection for the Thorntonia Aggregation, a significant wetland aggregation and the Gregory River and connectivity with the adjoining Boodjamulla National Park (Aboriginal Land) and the nearby Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park. The area has a complex mosaic of vegetation types across 17 regional ecosystems and suitable habitat for threatened species including the purple-crowned fairy-wren.

Any entity may comment about the proposal to the chief executive of the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, in writing and directed to tenureservices@detsi.qld.gov.au or Tenure Services, PO Box 15187, City East, QLD, 4002.

Comments received between 20 April and 18 May 2026 will be considered by the department.

Amendments to the QPWS estate under the Forestry (State Forests) Regulation 1987 and the Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Regulation 1994 are administered by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.