The future of a former aircraft landing ground in an environmentally sensitive coastal location is being put out to public consultation.
The Department of Environment and Science is seeking the community’s input on management options of the Noosa North Shore Landing Ground for Aircraft Reserve.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service regional director Stephen Price said the unique site was surrounded by the Cooloola section of Great Sandy National Park.
“The landing ground reserve, which was previously managed by the Noosa Shire Council, is now under DES’s trusteeship through QPWS,” he said.
The cleared area of the landing ground reserve has formerly been used for a variety of authorised aircraft, including hobby activities of hang-gliding, paragliding, microlighting and model aircraft flying.
Noosa Shire Council closed the airstrip to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in 2014, and the hobby activities were allowed to continue under authorities that have since expired.
“DES has committed to undertake community consultation on the reserve’s future use and management arrangements,” Mr Price said.
“The local community is encouraged to participate in an online survey to help inform the future use and tenure preferences for the site.”
Mr Price said the reserve had environmental significance as essential habitat for endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened wildlife, including for the vulnerable eastern ground parrot, as well as threatened frog and migratory bird species. Forty-four per cent of the area is also listed as koala habitat.
The reserve is also listed as a High Ecological Significance Wetland, and provides strong connectivity to the surrounding Great Sandy National Park.
The survey can be accessed here and closes on May 12.
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