- The declaration of two new nature refuges has expanded Queensland's protected area by more than 90,000 hectares.
- Watson River Nature Refuge on Cape York Peninsula spans 57,283 hectares while Urannah Nature Refuge in central Queensland covers 32,877 hectares.
- Both new refuges have been made possible through a joint investment by the Queensland and Australian governments to boost private conservation efforts.
Queensland's protected area network has grown by more than 90,000 hectares with the declaration of two new nature refuges – Watson River Nature Refuge on Cape York Peninsula and Urannah Nature Refuge in central Queensland.
Spanning 57,283 hectares and located 140km south-east of Weipa, Watson River Nature Refuge protects threatened species and regional ecosystems and provides important catchment protection for the Watson River.
It also strengthens landscape connectivity with existing nature refuges and the Oyala Thumotang and Batavia National Parks (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land).
Covering 32,877 hectares, Urannah Nature Refuge is 80km north-west of Mackay, and safeguards critical habitat for threatened species, including the elusive Irwin's turtle.
It also links directly with Eungella National Park, Macartney State Forest, and Sandy Falls Nature Refuge and enhances waterway protection for Broken River.
Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said it was another good example of thinking outside the box to get a conservation outcome.
"We know a lot of important species and ecosystems occur on private land, so initiatives like this are vital to turning around the decline of nature and also to reaching our target of 30 per cent of land protected by 2030."
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the new nature refuges represented a landmark step in collaborative conservation.
"This expansion shows Queensland is serious about protecting what makes us unique - our incredible natural environment," Minister Powell said.
"This is just the start, and we will continue to expand the protected area estate so every generation of Queenslanders can benefit from our pristine natural environment.
"Nature refuges are a smart way to protect what makes Queensland so special while keeping the land productive - supporting grazing, tourism, and conservation side by side."
The new refuges were made possible through the recent $4.1 million NatureAssist Round 11 grants, which saw a joint investment by the Queensland and Australian governments to boost private conservation efforts.
Private protected areas, including nature refuges and special wildlife reserves, make up about a third of Queensland's protected area network which totals more than 14.9 million hectares.
These areas are vital for biodiversity conservation, with 62 per cent of Queensland's regional ecosystem types found on privately protected land.
Nature refuges are created voluntarily under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, giving landholders a powerful way to protect unique landscapes and species while maintaining ownership and sustainable operations.
Launched in 2007, NatureAssist has delivered more than $19 million in funding across 132 projects, adding thousands of hectares to Queensland's protected area estate.
The Queensland Government recently released a discussion paper – A Fresh Start for Private Protected Areas – as part of its commitment to boosting Queensland's protected area estate through strategic acquisitions and voluntary partnerships with landholders.
Feedback submitted during the public consultation process is currently being analysed to inform a planned update of the private protected areas program, which marked 31 years in 2025.
