A sprawling, gum tree-laden property in Ipswich will now serve as a protected wildlife sanctuary forever. This is the outcome of a landmark conservation agreement between the landowners and the authorities the first of its kind for the city.
A Forever Commitment to Wildlife
For landowner Sam and her husband, the commitment to restoring their Purga property for native animals is now guaranteed to last for generations. Through a new program, they have signed the city’s first Voluntary Conservation Covenant, a legally binding agreement that ensures their land remains a safe haven for its koala population and other fauna. The covenant is an important step for conservation in the region, as their property sits next to federally recognised Areas of Regional Koala Significance, making it a crucial part of a larger environmental corridor.
Sam explained that the covenant provides certainty that all the hard work they have invested in wildlife restoration will be protected long into the future, regardless of who owns the land. The property is home to a rich variety of native animals, including echidnas, sugar gliders, bandicoots, and numerous bird species from kingfishers to eagles.
How the Partnership Works
The Voluntary Conservation Covenant is a key part of the Ipswich City Council’s Landholder Conservation Partnerships program, designed to support residents in protecting environmentally valuable areas on private land. According to Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding, these partnerships are vital because many of the city’s most significant habitats are located on private properties. The agreement is formally recognised under the Queensland Land Title Act 1994, making the conservation terms permanent.
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson, Councillor Jim Madden, noted that the program is funded through the Ipswich Enviroplan Levy. Through the program, Sam was provided with a bursary to advance the property’s restoration. This support system provides landowners with the resources, education, and property management plans needed to enhance the ecological value of their land through organised tree planting and weed control.
Breathing New Life into the Land
The conservation efforts on the Purga property are focused and strategic. The covenant covers a specific 9.16-hectare portion of the rural property, with a primary focus on restoring and buffering a creekline that acts as a vital corridor for koalas and other animals to move through the landscape.
Having collaborated with community groups like Queensland Trust for Nature and Healthy Land & Water, the landowners have already planted thousands of new trees. This revegetation work is transforming paddocks that had been overgrazed for decades into thriving habitats, with new blue gum and other remnant forest trees growing into future homes for the local koala population.
Part of a City-Wide Green Vision
This new covenant joins a broader network of conservation efforts across Ipswich. Mayor Harding stated that such initiatives help ensure the city’s iconic native flora and fauna can thrive. The council’s Enviroplan Levy has already enabled the acquisition of nearly 7,000 hectares of land for environmental purposes over the past three decades.
Furthermore, other agreements under the Landholder Conservation Partnerships program, such as Biodiversity and Corridor Conservation Agreements, already cover approximately 6,900 hectares of private land. Councillor Madden explained that these programs work together to ensure ecologically important land across the city is preserved from loss and mismanagement for a greener future.
Published Date 27-August-2025
