Daisy Hill Conservation Park is a special place for many local residents.
It sits on 570 hectares of open eucalypt forest, with mountain bike and walking paths and beautiful grassy areas for picnicking.
The park is a safe habitat for a significant population of koalas. And it’s a place locals treasure and enjoy spending time in.
In fact Daisy Hill Conservation Park is part of the fabric of our community, having been saved by the local community and protected ever since.
In 2020, I committed $2 million for Stage 2 of the Daisy Hill Action Plan, building on the $4.1 million we invested to deliver Stage 1 upgrades.
Because Daisy Hill Conservation Park belongs to the community, we’ve made sure to consult with the community every step of the way, including local stakeholder groups and local residents.
Last year I called for nominations from local residents to be part of a unique concept of putting the community at the helm of designs for the latest investments.
The Daisy Hill Design and Delivery Group members represent a range of key interest groups and park users – bush walkers, horse riders, mountain bikers, environmental groups and representatives of the local retirement village.
In 2021, the group and I met several times with officers from the Department of Environment and Science to discuss what the community needed from upgrades and what the best outcomes would be from the process.
I heard from the group that some of the key issues the community wanted us to focus on was more and improved mountain bike trails, and better accessibility, especially for residents of the Elements Retirement Village next door to the park, people using mobility aids and families with small children.
Since then, the Department has been working on a plan for further upgrades to improve disability and mobility access, heighten environmental protections, and upgrade mountain bike and walking trails, car parks and day use areas.
And now, those plans are ready to come back to the Design and Delivery Group for final consultation.
On Friday, 18 February, the Design and Delivery Group will meet to go over final designs and delivery timelines, after which we’ll send out more detailed information to the community. The group will then oversee project delivery to ensure it’s done right.
These upgrades will ensure the future viability of the park so locals and tourists alike can continue to enjoy this jewel in the crown of South East Queensland’s natural beauty.
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