Question on Notice No. 236

MR M HART ASKED THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND YOUTH AFFAIRS
(HON M SCANLON)—

QUESTION:
With reference to Queensland’s public protected area estate—
Will the Minister (a) provide a list of all land identified for acquisition to become part
of the public protected area estate and (b) advise the current land use of each parcel if
identified?

ANSWER:
I thank the Member for the question.
Since 2015, the Queensland Government has increased Queensland’s protected area
estate by more than 1.2 million hectares.
Further expansion of the public protected area estate will be guided by Queensland’s
Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030. The Queensland Government has allocated an
initial investment of $60 million over four years to support early implementation of
the Strategy, which includes $28 million for expanding the public protected area
estate. This is in addition to $6.5 million held for strategic acquisitions and dealings in
far north Queensland.
The department is currently in negotiation with landholders for the potential purchase
of a number of properties across the State, as it is at any given time. These
negotiations remain commercial-in-confidence. Such confidentiality is necessary to
protect the State’s interests, including value for money, and the privacy of potential
vendors.
Following the resolution of negotiations, details of acquisitions and dedications of
protected area are publicly reported.