Latest from the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park

From habitat stacks to almost 4000 new seedlings, this is the latest from the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park site.

Sunshine Coast Council has commenced the next phase of planning to establish the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park on 65 hectares of land adjoining Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve on Jinibara Country at Maleny. 

Project timeline

The project is currently in the early site investigations and design planning phase.

During this phase (2024-2029), the focus will be on early site investigations and research, some revegetation activities, design planning for elements of the Master Plan, exploring potential partnership and funding opportunities and identifying ongoing and future opportunities for our community to be involved. 

These important first steps are vital to realising the successful long-term delivery of this unique environmental and recreational precinct.

Throughout the project’s evolution our community will have many opportunities to play an integral role in the park’s restorative process and connect more strongly with the land and each other. 

This will be achieved through knowledge sharing, collaboration, environmental sustainability initiatives such as planting days, research, cultural education and events, volunteering, community celebrations and more.

Recent and ongoing activities 

The site is already experiencing some regeneration of native plants from the neighbouring Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve.

Current activities are focused on 7.5 hectares of the total 65-hectare site (approximately 11 per cent), with the help of community organisations and dedicated volunteers.

• Total seedlings planted to date – 3,889
• Revegetation plantings – with a focus on fast growing species like Bleeding heart (Homolanthus populifolius) as well as rainforest plants
• Rare, significant or threatened species plantings including:
  • Maroochy nut (Macadamia ternifolia) – donated and locally propagated plants from the Macadamia Conservation Trust. The Sunshine Coast has 77 percent of the world’s Maroochy nut plants.
  • Richmond birdwing butterfly vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa) – the only host plant for the vulnerable Richmond birdwing butterfly on the Sunshine Coast
  •  North pigeonberry ash (Galbulimima baccata), Sunshine Coast Apple (Endiandra lowiana) and Whitebark (Endiandra compressa) – all significant species for our region’s biodiversity
• Habitat stacks – the installation of coarse wood piles to accelerate restoration, ecosystem recovery and research
• Youth Planting Day – 400 seedlings planted in partnership with Zero Positives for Schools, Andrew Powell MP, Maleny Lions Club, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve volunteers and Council

• Education – presentation from University of Queensland’s Professor Hugh Possingham on rainforest birds and planting for wildlife habitat
• Working bees – monthly working bees by the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve volunteers for weed control, maintenance and planting.

Other activities include:

• Land surveys
• Flora, soil, fungi and fauna studies (such as frogs, mammals, fish, birds)
• Waterway and groundwater assessments
• Traffic studies
• Funding opportunities investigation
• Ongoing design planning.

About the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park

The project will be a place of cherished nature and ecological wonder for generations to discover and enjoy, and strengthen our region’s environmental, community, arts and cultural connections.

An ecological park considers people, wildlife, resources and vegetation equally, balancing recreation with ecological restoration.

Proposed infrastructure includes walking trails, a forest lookout tower, treetop boardwalks, spaces for events, a community hub, facilities for research, and revegetation of more than 70 per cent of the site.

The park aims to protect, celebrate and restore the site, returning the current pasture land to rainforest and wetlands alongside places for our community to gather and immerse in nature, arts and local cultural heritage.

The park will be a journey over several decades as we work together and witness the evolution of the regrowing rainforest, burgeoning biodiversity and new community connections and new discoveries at every turn. 

The park will be developed in phases as funding becomes available.

To learn more about the project and view the master plan, visit Council’s website.

Project funding

Due to the significant scale and timeline of this project its implementation is beyond the financial capacity of Council alone. 

Council will continue to seek partnerships to help deliver on the park’s vision including funding from other sources such as State and Federal Governments, research institutions and private philanthropy.

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