Protecting a Critical Link in the Mount Barney Landscape

Earlier this month, members of B4C's Landcare Services Team travelled to Mount Barney for a weekend of team building, ecological surveys and on-ground conservation work at one of B4C's two Nature Refuge properties.

In 2015, B4C purchased the 129-hectare property as a long-term investment in nature conservation. Located within the Yamahra Creek catchment, the property adjoins the World Heritage-listed Mount Barney National Park and provides an important landscape connection between a northern section of the park and the larger protected area to the south.

The property's conservation value lies not only in its size, but also in the quality and diversity of its habitats. It supports extensive remnant eucalypt forest, areas of naturally regenerating woodland and native grasslands in excellent condition. Together, these vegetation communities provide food, shelter and movement corridors for a wide range of native wildlife.

The property provides important habitat for koalas, Glossy Black-Cockatoos and many other native species. By protecting and managing this land, B4C is helping maintain habitat connectivity across the broader Mount Barney landscape, allowing wildlife to move between larger areas of protected bushland.

As a declared Nature Refuge, the property contributes to Queensland's protected area network while remaining under B4C's stewardship. Ongoing management includes weed control, ecological monitoring and targeted restoration activities to protect the site's natural values and support its long-term resilience.

The weekend also provided an opportunity for staff to undertake a bioblitz, recording plants, animals and other species found across the property. These surveys help build knowledge of the site's biodiversity, monitor changes over time and guide future management priorities.

The purchase of the property reflects B4C's commitment to reinvesting in the environment. As a not-for-profit organisation and social enterprise, surplus funds generated through our Landcare Services Team are directed back into conservation and community initiatives. Rather than seeking a financial return, B4C invests in projects that deliver lasting environmental outcomes.

The continued protection of this important property has only been possible through the support of our members, volunteers, clients, funding partners and the many organisations that have chosen to work alongside B4C over the years. Their support has helped create a lasting conservation legacy that will benefit wildlife and future generations.