Environment reserves
Learn more about our environment reserves and our plans to manage them.
We care for and manage more than 800 environment reserves ranging in size from 1.8ha – 487ha.
Many of our reserves offer easy access and walking trails for our community to get out to enjoy the beauty of our region and connect with nature. Other reserves are remote and wild places with limited access.
Most of the larger sites were purchased through Councils environment levy program, to protect high value conservation habitat across the Sunshine Coast LGA. The larger reserves with high biodiversity values have individual detailed management and landscape plans which are shown below.
A reserve management plan brings together all the information known about the reserve including what plants and animals can be found there and the history of the site. The plan is a comprehensive description of the reserves ecological, economic, social and cultural values and how these will be managed for the future.
Whereas a reserve landscape plan maps out and sets the framework for future opportunities for sustainable community access such as walking trails.
The remainder of the reserves are guided by the Environment Reserves Network Management Plan and an annual works program.
Annie Hehir Road Environment Reserve
Annie Hehir Road Environment Reserve
About the reserve
The Annie Hehir Environment Reserve is 63.25ha and located on Jinibara Country, south southwest of Maleny.
Towering rainforest trees, ancient Gondwanan plants, shimmering mountain streams and an abundance of wildlife are just some of the treasures that await visitors in this special place perched on the slopes of the Blackall Range.
Annie Hehir Road Environment Reserve is an exceptional conservation area containing high biodiversity values and pristine waterways, providing a rare glimpse into what parts of the Sunshine Coast hinterland would have looked like prior to European settlement.
The reserve is home to several rare and threatened plants and animals and connects to core habitat areas within the Upper Stanley River catchment and beyond.
Learn more by reading the management plan below.
Visiting the reserve
All reserves have fire trails that can be accessed for walking. Annie Hehir is zoned as a “conservation” reserve with no formal walking trails or car parking.
Getting there
You’ll find Annie Hehir Environment Reserve at River Road, Peachester.
Management plan
Annie Hehir Road environment reserve (PDF, 6.4MB)
Coolum Creek Environmental Reserve
Coolum Creek Environmental Reserve
About the reserve
The Coolum Creek Environmental Reserve is on Kabi Kabi Country, on the Maroochy River floodplain, at the junction of Maroochy River and Coolum Creek, 2km West of Mt Coolum National Park.
Together, with the adjoining Coolum Creek Conservation Park, the Coolum creek Environmental Reserve adds a large, protected area of 440ha to the National Estate listed Noosa-Maroochy Wallum Area.
This also provides significant connectivity between the Noosa National Park (Marcoola section) and adjacent forests.
Learn more by reading the management plan below.
Visiting the reserve
All reserves have fire trails that can be accessed for walking. Coolum Creek is zoned as a “conservation” reserve with no formal walking trails or car parking.
Management plan
Coolum Creek environmental reserve. (PDF, 2.21MB)
Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve
Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve
About the reserve
The Doonan Creek Environment Reserve is 427ha and located to the west of Peregian Springs.
Thanks to Environment Levy funding, several parcels of land were purchased between 2013 and 2021 to create this large conservation reserve and protect an important habitat link in the Sunshine Coast to Noosa Wallum corridor.
It’s a special place and an important coastal habitat area with vegetation that ranges from iconic coastal heath, scribbly gum forest to melaleuca wetlands.
It provides an essential home and food resources for more than 125 different bird and 16 different mammal species. This includes the eastern grey kangaroo, vulnerable wallum froglet, brown quail, Australian pipit, grey-headed flying-foxes, beneficial insects, the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo – and Fred the koala.
Learn more about the Doonan Creek Environment Reserve by viewing the story map.
Visiting the reserve
The community is welcome to visit the reserve to connect with nature and observe all the reserve has to offer. Dogs are allowed on a leash only. This is important to keep the wildlife safe at the reserve. Please pick up after your dog.
To facilitate this, Council has upgraded the car park and is currently upgrading part of the walking trail to a concrete path. This will create a more accessible pathway and allow people of all abilities to enjoy the trail and use the beautiful outdoor space for sustainable nature-based recreation.
In the coming years, Council will continue its investment in improving the visitor experience at the reserve.
There are plans to develop the information services at the reserve including a sound trail, way finding signage and cultural heritage information.
There will be further investigations into connecting trails to alternative entry points, such as Peregian Springs urban area, so the local community can have walking distance access to the trail network in the reserve.
We also know that the reserve is a significant bird watchers’ paradise and have plans to design and construct more multi-use trails including a bird hide.
This work will take place over the coming years and Council will update our community as each one comes to fruition.
Getting there
You’ll find Doonan Creek Environment Reserve at 219 Doonan Bridge Rd, Verrierdale.
Management plan
Doonan Creek environmental reserve (PDF, 13.69MB)
Landscape plan
Doonan Creek environmental reserve landscape plan concept (PDF , 9.54MB)
Kirbys Road Environmental Reserve
Kirbys Road Environmental Reserve
About the reserve
Kirbys Road Environment Reserve is 213.36ha and was purchase through the Environment Levy Land Acquisition Program.
Kirbys Road Environmental Reserve was purchased in 2011 under the Environment Levy Land Acquisition Program. The reserve provides a key link between the Kondalilla National Park and Maleny National Park. Learn more by reading the management plan below.
Visiting the reserve
Plans are underway to create a sensitive trail in the reserve for our community to enjoy.
Getting there
You’ll find Kirbys Road Environment Reserve at 139-249 Kirbys Rd, Obi Obi.
Management plan
Kirbys Road environmental reserve (PDF, 4.9MB)
Landscape plan
Kirbys Road environmental reserve landscape plan (PDF, 17.1MB)
Mount Ninderry Environment Reserve
Mount Ninderry Environment Reserve
About the reserve
The Mount Ninderry Environment Reserve is 199ha and located on Kabi Kabi Country, to the west of Peregian Springs.
It has a rich cultural history and high ecological value, while offering a picturesque backdrop for people to get out, be active and connect to Country.
Visiting the reserve
The community is welcome to visit the reserve to connect with nature and observe all the reserve has to offer. Dogs are allowed on a leash only. This is important to keep the wildlife safe at the reserve. Please pick up after your dog.
Learn more about the Mount Ninderry walking trail at adventure.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Getting there
You’ll find Mount Ninderry Environment Reserve at the end of Ninderry Road, Ninderry.
Management plan
Mount Ninderry environment reserve volume I (PDF, 9.01MB)
Mount Ninderry environment reserve volume II (appendices) (PDF, 16.39MB)
Landscape plan
Development of a landscape plan for Mount Ninderry Environment Reserve is underway. Please visit haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au to learn more.
Racemosa Environmental Reserve
Racemosa Environmental Reserve
About the reserve
The Racemosa Environment Reserve is 113.74ha and located on Jinibara Country, approximately one kilometre southeast of the Landsborough village within the Pumicestone Passage catchment.
Learn more by reading the management plan below.
Visiting the reserve
All reserves have fire trails that can be accessed for walking. Racemosa is zoned as a “conservation” reserve with no formal walking trails or car parking.
Getting there
You’ll find Racemosa Environment Reserve at Hardwood Road, Landsborough.
Management plan
Racemosa environmental reserve (PDF, 5.0MB)
Triunia Environmental Reserve
Triunia Environmental Reserve
About the reserve
The Triunia Environment Reserve is 105.56ha and located on Kabi Kabi Country, west of Woombye on the eastern foothills of the Maleny-Mapleton plateau.
Learn more by reading the management plan below.
Visiting the reserve
All reserves have fire trails that can be accessed for walking. Triunia is zoned as a “conservation” reserve with no formal walking trails or car parking.
Management plan
Triunia environmental reserve (PDF, 13.73MB)
Upper Mooloolah Nature Refuge
Upper Mooloolah Nature Refuge
About the reserve
The Upper Mooloolah Nature Refuge is 45.5ha and located on Kabi Kabi Country, near Bald Knob.
Learn more by reading the management plan below.
Visiting the reserve
All reserves have fire trails that can be accessed for walking. Upper Mooloolah Nature Refuge is zoned as a “conservation” reserve with no formal walking trails or car parking.
Management plan
Upper Mooloolah nature refuge (PDF, 16.31MB)
How you can help
Join like-minded volunteers and get involved in conservation to help protect our environment through Council and partner programs.
Adventure Sunshine Coast
Visit adventure.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au to find out about other nature trails across the Sunshine Coast.
Ecological restoration is just one way council and our community are working together to deliver a healthy environment and liveable Sunshine Coast. View the environment and liveability strategy to see what else we are doing.