Sunshine Coast Airport (SCA) and Future Plus Environmental (FPE) have come together on World Environment Day to celebrate their on-going commitment to environmental conservation. This year’s theme is ‘Our Land. Our Future’, focusing on regeneration and land restoration.
SCA and FPE have been working together to manage more than 90ha of environmental conservation area across the Airport precinct. Part of this area includes the Conservation Corridor, a 40ha offset area that links the northern and southern ends of Mount Coolum National Park.
To date, SCA and FPE have planted more than 10,000 tubestock trees within the Conservation Corridor, and by July 2024, will have revegetated approximately 18ha of land with native tree and shrub species.
SCA General Manager Operations Kate McCreery-Carr said the Airport was extremely proud of the partnership with FPE.
“With more than 10,000 trees planted in the Conservation Corridor to date, it is a testament to both our team and FPE who have come together to support this incredible project,” Ms McCreery-Carr said.
“Our airport operates in one of the most unique places in the world, surrounded by three biospheres.
“World Environment Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, but also acknowledge that we have a long way to go.
“I know both the Airport and FPE are passionate about our on-going environmental initiatives and look forward to continuing our journey.”
FPE Ecologist Jono Hooper said the Conservation Corridor was a unique project.
“Rehabilitating the Conservation Corridor and improving its ecological value is something we are extremely proud of,” Mr Hooper said.
“The 100m wide fauna corridor will provide connectivity between the northern and southern sections of the adjoining Mount Coolum National Park.
“This will help create an area where animals can traverse, helping improve the overall biocondition in the Corridor and across the Airport site.
“Our partnership with SCA has been extremely rewarding, and with another 8,500 trees to be planted over the coming years, I look forward to continuing it into the future.”
About Sunshine Coast Airport
Sunshine Coast Airport was the first airport in Australia to hold Level 3+ Carbon Neutrality status. By 2040, total direct employment at the Airport is expected to grow from 530 to 2,400 direct jobs and contribute an estimated $406million in total to Australia’s GDP.
Sunshine Coast Airport Pty Ltd operates and manages Sunshine Coast Airport, the gateway to the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions, under a 99-year lease from Sunshine Coast Council which commenced in December 2017. In July 2023, Sunshine Coast Airport was declared a priority development area (PDA) by the Queensland Government.
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