The endangered Golden Shouldered Parrot at Cape York. THE Queensland Government has bought three Cape York cattle stations for $12.6 million, protecting 515,000ha of Aboriginal land and habitat for the endangered golden shouldered parrot.
Dixie and Wulpan stations on central Cape York were bought in February, while Crosbie Station, to the southwest towards Kowanyama, was bought in 2009.
Three cattle stations, including Dixie Station on Cape York (pictured), will be handed over as Aboriginal land and key habitat for the golden shouldered parrot. Picture: Dept of Environment and Heritage Protection.All were pastoral leases and voluntary acquisitions. The land is to be divided between the Olkola people and areas deemed worthy of conservation.
Dixie Station on Cape York which was bought for Aboriginal and national park use. Picture: Dept of Environment and Heritage ProtectionNegotiations were conducted before the election but it is a tricky issue for the State Government because National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said earlier this month he was looking at closing 875,000ha of newly-allocated parks so they could be used for grazing and logging.
Golden Shouldered Parrots in captivity at Lone Pine Sanctuary in Brisbane in 1996Mr Dickson's office was unable to say yesterday if the stations would be part of the review, if they would be returned to grazing or if they would go on to become national parks.
Environment Department Cape York Peninsula tenure resolution branch director Buzz Symonds said the stations were bought as part of the Cape York Peninsula Tenure Resolution Program, set up to resolve tenure issues on 20 parcels of state-owned land.
Negotiations were expected to be completed, tenure transferred and protected areas dedicated mid next year, he said.
The Federal Government contributed $7.8 million and the Queensland Government $1.2 million for Dixie-Wulpan. Their combined area is 402,000ha. The Queensland Government paid $3.6 million for Crosbie.