In response to resident and local community group concerns regarding the lack of progress on a full management plan for Tuchekoi National Park, Sandy has continued her efforts.
From previous responses from the Queensland Minister for Environment, outlined in our January 2025 Noosa 360 update, we understand the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) requires management statements (MS) to be reviewed every ten years and either extended, amended, or replaced, with a proposal currently underway to extend the existing Tuchekoi National Park MS imminently via an administrative process to renew the currency of the MS with no material changes made. We recognise there are other National Parks, listed in a previous response, with higher levels of service which have been identified to be prioritised ahead of Tuchekoi. Included in this priority list was Tewantin National Park, which is governed by the Tewantin National Park and Harry Spring Conservation Park Management Statement 2013. Recently this also only received an extension without significant revision indicating, from our understanding, that this plan will need to be overhauled soon given its level of service, and especially considering the substantial amendments required because of the newly incorporated Ringtail Creek and Yurol sections.
As raised by stakeholders, the areas within the Tewantin National Park are linked to Tuchekoi geographically and by virtue of mountain biking, adventure recreation, walking, horse riding, and the Noosa Trails, meaning it would be beneficial to include it within the same review and management plan, given it is only an additional three-point nine square kilometres. The precedent for this is set by the Noosa Area Management Plan 2022, available at www.bit.ly/NoosaNPAreaPlan2022, which incorporated the Noosa National Park, Noosa Conservation Park, Weyba Creek Conservation Park, Keyser Island Conservation Park and Noosa Resources Reserve all together.
Including and considering the information above, Sandy wrote again to the Minister requesting that Tuchekoi be included in the same plan as Tewantin National Park to address community concerns and potentially save department resources. In addition, whether they could report on the timeframe for the overhaul of Tewantin National Park management.
The following was provided by the Minister in response:
I can confirm that the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (the department) has now merged future management planning for Tuchekoi National Park and Tewantin National Park to allow for holistic management of protected areas in this region.
As you have noted, the Tuchekoi National Park and Tuchekoi Forest Reserve Management Statement 2013 (the Statement) is intended to undergo an administrative review and extension to meet legislative requirements. This administrative process aims to address competing priorities for management planning across South East Queensland, given that statutory management plans can take several years and a significant investment of resources to complete. The department uses `Level of Service’ ratings, which are based on park values, threats and complexity of management to prioritise management activities and resourcing.
The department is currently prioritising progressing management planning for other parks such as the World Heritage Gondwana Springbrook, Lamington and Mt Barney National Parks. Please be assured that the department has internal procedures to remain abreast of contemporary park values and threats to all protected areas within the region, including Tuchekoi National Park. Departmental officers are available to discuss any concerns or perspectives that community groups may have about specific park management issues to ensure current visitor trends and emerging matters are considered in day-to-day operational activities.
As mentioned above, the department has now merged future management planning for Tuchekoi National Park and Tewantin National Park, which is welcomed.
Sandy will continue to monitor this and follow up regarding a timeline for the joint management plan. If you have any feedback on the above or regarding Tuchekoi or Tewantin National Park, please email our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Further information
To contact the Queensland Minister for Environment, email environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please copy our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.
For our previous Noosa 360 update regarding this matter, please visit www.sandybolton.com/tewantin-national-park-expansion-august-2024.
For information on the expansion of the Tewantin National Park by the inclusion of the Ringtail Creek and Yurol sections and the advocacies regarding, please visit www.sandybolton.com/tewantin-national-park-expansion-august-2024.
In November 2022, following Sandy’s long advocacy, a small portion of land was revocated from Tuchekoi National Park to provide ongoing tenure for the Pomona Men’s Shed who have used this site since 2014. Please find further information regarding at www.sandybolton.com/pomona-mens-shed-update-october-2023.
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