Sunshine Coast Council has endorsed the masterplan for Sunshine Coast Ecological Park, with 65 hectares of farmland set to become a refuge for wildlife and a place for communities to marvel at the beauty of fauna and flora.
The project, led by Hassell, aims to restore the land to its former glory, revive ecosystems, and provide nature-based recreation and education for communities. The proposed parkland adjoins the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve and incorporates opportunities for nature engagement, with walking trails, nature play areas, treetop boardwalks and a lookout with views of the Glasshouse Mountains. There will also be community areas and facilities for research, education and land stewardship.
Hassell principal Daniel Kallis said that the project will not only provides a green asset for communities to immerse themselves in nature but balances the demand for open space with ecological needs.
“The park concept embraces the notion of co-habitation, shifting away from a ‘human-centric’ approach to establish a space that is shared among all species,” Kallis said. “It will be a place that establishes a genuine balance of human recreation and ecological restoration.”
The masterplan was prepared with community input between 2021 and 2023, where the community indicated that they would like the park to incorporate walking trails, wetlands, a loop path, a forest lookout and a treetop bridge.
Kallis said the masterplan was inspired by the First Nations philosophy of healing Country and developed in consultation with the traditional owners of the land, the Jinibara people, as well as other cultural knowledge holders.
“The Ecological Park will be a story of repair, recreation and education that delivers significant environmental and social benefits that will grow and develop with the Sunshine Coast community,” he said.
“The existing farmland provides an unfettered canvas to realise unique nature-based spaces, amenities, and attractions, allowing for curated community and cultural programming within a restored forest setting that invites native flora and fauna to flourish once more.”
Following the council’s endorsement, the project has now progressed to the next phase, which involves planning for staged design.
