26 hectares of bushland in Bundaberg East will remain a wildlife habitat and recreation place for residents following approval of a planning scheme amendment to rezone the area as open space.
Following the rezoning, Bundaberg Regional Council plans to add the parcel of land on Telegraph Road, historically known as Gympie Estate, to the adjacent Baldwin Swamp Environment Park.
The land was originally subdivided in 1888 for future residential housing but was found to be unsuitable for development in 2025 after investigations to use the land for a significant affordable housing project found there were geotechnical and environmental constraints.
Council then began the process to propose rezoning the land as open space to ensure it was managed effectively and appropriately into the future.
The State Planning Minister recently approved the amendment of the Bundaberg Regional Council Planning Scheme, with Council formally adopting the amendment at its Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday 25 August.
Local environmentalist Maureen Schmitt said she was very pleased to see the rezoning process finalised.
“I’d like to thank Council for making this process happen so quickly,” Maureen said.
“It just secures a future for the plants and animals that are already here.
“We’re glad it’s happening and we look forward to seeing a big sign up there on Telegraph Road saying Baldwin Swamp Environmental Park.”
Maureen said the land had been effectively operating as part of the environmental park for a long time.
“It’s got significant vegetation on it, it’s got wildlife already there, and it’s just a wonderful area right in the heart of Bundaberg,” she said.
“It’s been operating as a part of Baldwin Swamp for the last 150 years.
“It joins onto 55 hectares of an environmental park and that’s a big thing because there’s no other areas left that can be added into Baldwin Swamp, Gympie Estate is the last area, really.”
In the rezoned area, Maureen identified pockets of Woongarra scrub, a dry rainforest vegetation that once extended across Bundaberg.
“The Woongarra scrub, it’s very historical because there’s something like 0.1% of it remaining.
“The number of trees in it, the biodiversity in Woongarra scrub is so much more than like a forest area.
“So, to have a segment of it in, well, another segment in Baldwin Swamp is very, very important.”
Mayor Helen Blackburn said rezoning the land to open space was a welcome outcome for the community.
“Council received a large number of submissions through community consultation on the proposed amendment that supported the rezoning of this area as open space,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“This amendment forms part of a coordinated plan to include the land within the Baldwin Swamp Environmental Park.
“Additional steps under consideration include the possible amalgamation of lots into a single title, adding the land to the management plan for Baldwin Swamp, erecting signage and updating Council’s interactive mapping system.”
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