The Willawa Nature Refuge, 12km north of Queensland's Theodore, will preserve open brigalow forest along the banks of the Dawson River, conserving the catchment area and helping regenerate the regionally endangered riparian brigalow.
Endangered brigalow and eucalypts will also be conserved in the second refuge along the Malakoff Range, protecting the threatened ecosystem and native fauna.
A nature refuge is an area of protected land established via a voluntary agreement, with landholders receiving advice from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services about land management, plant and animal identification, and pest and weed control. Eligible owners of nature refuges can have their land tax reimbursed and their stamp duty refunded for land bought after July 1 2003.
"This commitment by Anglo and Mitsui shows how modern mining operations can be conducted alongside conservation programs that preserve examples of endangered regional ecosystems surrounding the mine," said Queensland environment minister Desley Boyle.
"I encourage more landholders to consider making a lasting commitment to conservation in Queensland by considering committing part or all of their property to a nature refuge."
