Significant land purchase in Cape York provides huge boost to conservation estate and First Nations management

We welcome the Palaszczuk Government’s purchase of Bramwell Station and Richardson Stations, equalling over 131,900 hectares – announced today as the latest acquisition under the Cape York Tenure Resolution Program. 

The purchase will protect nationally significant wetlands including Harmer Creek and Port Musgrave Aggregation and the headwaters of the Olive River that feeds into the Great Barrier Reef. The land supports continuous tracts of savannah, rainforests, heathlands and freshwater ecosystems and is habitat for many rare and threatened species of plants and animals including the Palm Cockatoo.

Andrew Picone said it was great to see the Palaszczuk Government supporting Indigenous-led conservation on Cape York, by purchasing land and investing in the future of the Cape York Tenure Resolution Program.

 “This property occupies a critical place in the landscape of Cape York connecting surrounding environments. Today’s acquisition for future divestment back to Traditional Owners has been long-awaited.

“The new area supports 25 ecosystems that are already underrepresented in our protected area network, two of which –  lowland tropical rainforest and open woodland plains – are threatened.

“These areas are important on a global scale both naturally and culturally, so it’s fantastic that they will be in safe hands as the Queensland Government returns them back to the Wuthathi and Atambaya Peoples.

“This is the Queensland Government’s second large acquisition in 2022, and is precisely the type of action that is needed to reach Queensland’s protected area target. Today’s announcement is also a strong step towards delivering on the government’s commitment to Indigenous-led conservation, as outlined in the 2020-2030 Protected Area Strategy.

“The Cape York tenure resolution program is one of the most successful and longest-running land use and conservation planning initiatives in Australia and delivers co-benefits across social, cultural, employment and economic outcomes.”

“Since 1995, the Cape York Tenure Resolution Program has returned over 3.85 million hectares of land to Aboriginal ownership of which approximately 2.3 million hectares are Indigenous-owned, jointly managed national parks.”