Powering environmental excellence

An environmental offset agreement with Energex is helping Sunshine Coast Council power towards its objective of ensuring the region’s biodiversity is protected, enhanced and healthy.

The agreement is driving the restoration of a 30 hectare pocket of degraded bushland within the London Creek Environmental Reserve at Peachester.

Environment Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said the offset agreement was helping Sunshine Coast Council work towards a sustainable environment.

“Council purchased this particular reserve using Environmental Levy funding in 2010 and it has been identified in the Sunshine Coast Biodiversity Strategy as a core habitat area that provides connection to other important environmental reserves between Mount Mellum and the Blackall Range, she said”

“The first offset last year saw around 16,000 native trees planted in another area of this reserve.”

Energex Asset Manager (North) Steven Lynch said under its corporate Environmental Offsets Policy, Energex seeks to achieve an equivalent, or better, environmental outcome than the environment which is to be impacted by Energex’s works.

“Energex is committed to achieving an environmental gain through offsets for network enhancement projects that result in unavoidable environmental impacts,” he said.

The offsets are being implemented in advance of future electricity infrastructure works on the Sunshine Coast.”

Division 1 Councillor Rick Baberowski said the offset agreement between council and Energex is the second Energex investment to enhance the conservatrion values of London Creek Environmental Reserve.

“This offset involves bush regeneration of an area within the reserve to remove exotic weed species and encourage native vegetation to regenerate,” he said.

“The first offset agreement between Energex and council in February 2013 involves revegetation of 8 hectares of cleared land previously used for grazing.

“Council has engaged specialist contractors to perform these works that began in December last year, via the funding from Energex.”

The project will benefit a number of animal species, including koalas, echidnas and platypus, the near-threatened Elf Skink, the endangered Giant Barred Frog and the vulnerable Tusked Frog and plant species such as; the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vine and the vulnerable Three-leafed Bostistoa, Maroochy Nut, and Red Lily Pily.

The London Creek Environmental Reserve is located at MacDonald’s Road Peachester.