BCCA were contracted to implement two phases of BMRG’s ‘Healthy Habitats’ program in the Inland Burnett. The program provided financial and extension support to landholders wanting to protect natural areas on their properties that were in good condition or identified as high priority.

Projects protected endangered plants and animals or supported healthy ecosystems and habitats, including fencing off a patch of endangered semi-evergreen vine thicket or brigalow belah ecosystem, controlling weeds in a high value ecosystem, installing nest boxes or wildlife friendly fencing and tree planting to establish or enhance healthy habitats.

In the Inland Burnett, the small number of landholders whose properties were registered as Land for Wildlife were approached to access grants to undertake projects to enhance the value of the habitat on their land. As a result of the Healthy Habitats program, three additional properties in the Inland Burnett were registered as Land for Wildlife.

In the first phase of the Healthy Habitats program in the Inland Burnett, almost $50,000 was invested, resulting in over 400 ha of land being enhanced or protected. BCCA also delivered two workshops as part of the project and established new partnerships with SBRC and the Kingaroy and Districts Branch of SGAP while consolidating the existing partnerships with NBRC and BRC. After a two-year break, BCCA coordinated a second phase of Healthy Habitats program for BMRG in the Inland Burnett during 2011–2013. Despite the floods in January 2013, 27 of the 29 projects were completed, a testament to landholders’ commitment to their respective projects.

Threatened species habitats targeted for protection in this phase of the program included cycads (Cycas megacarpa and Macrozamia parifolia), as well as a rare wattle species (Acacia grandifolia), and habitat for the red goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiates) and southern spotted quoll (Dasyurus maculatus).

Landholders protected more than 1000 ha of endangered ecosystems, most of which are in remnants smaller than 50 ha. In addition to these threatened ecosystems, more than 30 000 ha of habitat for threatened flora and fauna was protected.

The contribution from landholders towards these projects was substantial, with one landholder spending $2.80 for every $1 that the Healthy Habitats program provided. On average landholders received $8,225 to undertake the on-ground activity on their property to protect the natural assets, and on average, landholders matched this investment with their own funds. The total investment from the program and landholders in this second phase to protect habitats was $427,409.

In addition to the on-ground works, the Healthy Habitat program in the Inland Burnett also included running workshops, producing case studies and promoting the Land for Wildlife program. The Healthy Habitats program promoted Land for Wildlife as a formal but voluntary recognition of landholder efforts to conserve habitats.