Habitat Protection

Private land is critical to protecting native wildlife—linking habitats, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening the health of the entire landscape.

Council’s Habitat Protection Program—led by the flagship Land for Wildlife program—helps landholders take action on their property. Through practical support, expert advice and incentives, it empowers landholders to protect and enhance the environmental values on their properties.

It’s a powerful partnership between Council, landholders and the community—working together to secure the Scenic Rim’s natural assets.

Land for Wildlife

For over 25 years, Land for Wildlife has been a cornerstone of private land conservation, growing into one of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing networks of landholders committed to protecting biodiversity. This free, voluntary program supports landholders with properties larger than 1 hectare to conserve native plants and animals in a practical, hands-on way tailored to their land.

At its core is a one-on-one visit from a local Land for Wildlife Officer, providing personalised advice and ongoing support to help balance conservation with everyday land use—whether grazing, farming, or lifestyle living.

Members can access a wide range of resources and incentives, including opportunities to engage with new technologies and external funding programs, citizen science projects, fauna camera loans, bush regeneration tools, workshops and field days, weed and feral animal control support, and assistance with threatened species conservation.

The program also provides opportunities to connect with a community of like-minded landholders who are actively making a difference on their properties.

Land for Wildlife continues to evolve, with a strong focus on habitat restoration through practical on-ground actions such as weed control and enhancement of native flora and fauna.

Importantly, Land for Wildlife recognises that what happens on private land matters—delivering conservation outcomes that extend well beyond individual property boundaries and contribute to broader landscape-scale biodiversity outcomes.

Voluntary Conservation agreements

A Voluntary Conservation Agreement is a partnership with Council to protect and manage important natural features on your property—particularly those unique to the Scenic Rim  and  includes threatened ecosystems, flora and fauna in addition to locally significant species.

Each agreement includes a tailored Management Plan, developed in consultation with the landholder and a Land for Wildlife Officer, outlining actions to protect, manage and enhance the agreed conservation areas.

While the agreement is legally binding, it does not affect the land title and will end if the property is sold.

Landholders may be eligible for a rates rebate of up to 50% on the general rate for the area covered by the agreement. To maintain eligibility, a Land for Wildlife Officer will undertake an annual audit of the Management Plan with you.

To receive the rebate each year, landholders are required to match the rebate value through either financial contributions or in-kind conservation work, as outlined in the Management Plan.

Seen a Land for Wildlife sign on a property but you don’t know what it is about? Here’s what you need to know.

If you have recently purchased a property displaying a Land for Wildlife or Bush Heritage sign, please note that program membership does not automatically transfer with the sale of the property. To access the program’s benefits, resources, and support, new landholders are required to rejoin by contacting Scenic Rim Regional Council’s Land for Wildlife program.

An existing sign on a property may also indicate that the property is no longer actively registered, or that current ownership and contact details are not recorded in our system — particularly if you are not receiving any communication from the program.

What to do if you buy a property with an existing Voluntary Conservation Agreement with Scenic Rim Regional Council?

Incentives, support, and rates rebates associated with the Land for Wildlife program and Voluntary Conservation Agreement do not automatically transfer with the sale of a property. New landholders are required to rejoin the program.

New owners may choose to continue with a Voluntary Conservation Agreement, which can include access to incentives and rates rebates, subject to eligibility. If participation continues, a tailored property management plan will be developed in consultation with the new landholders.

The Voluntary Conservation Agreement does not alter the property title and ceases upon sale of the property.

For further information, or to discuss property obligations and available support, please contact Scenic Rim Regional Council’s Environment Planning and Biodiversity team to speak with an officer.

What to do if you buy a property with an existing Voluntary Conservation Covenant with Scenic Rim Regional Council?

Under the Land Title Act, the Conservation Covenant area remains permanently attached to the property title in perpetuity.

Please note that the incentives, support, and rates rebate associated with the Land for Wildlife program and Voluntary Conservation Agreement do not automatically transfer with the sale of the property. New landholders are required to rejoin the program and continue working under a tailored property management plan designed to support the conservation objectives of the Covenant area.

If you choose not to participate in the Land for Wildlife program or enter into a Voluntary Conservation Agreement with Scenic Rim Regional Council, that is entirely your decision. However, the Conservation Covenant will remain on the property title, and there are specific obligations and conditions that must still be complied with under the agreement.

For further information or to discuss your property obligations and available support, please contact Scenic Rim Regional Council’s Environment Planning and Biodiversity team to speak with an officer.

Nature refuges

A Nature Refuge is not a Council program—it is offered by the Queensland Government.

It is a voluntary agreement between a landholder and the Government to protect the significant natural and cultural values of privately managed land, formalised through a conservation covenant over the property. Nature Refuges are recognised as a class of protected area under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and are established in perpetuity.

Landholders with a Nature Refuge may also be eligible to apply for a Voluntary Conservation Agreement with Council.

Find out more:
Email: naturerefuge@detsi.qld.gov.au
Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

Landholders with a Nature Refuge may be eligible to enter into a Voluntary Conservation Agreement with Scenic Rim Regional Council.

What does this mean?
A Conservation Agreement is a legally binding contract with Council; however, it does not affect the land title and is automatically terminated if the property is sold.

Landholders may receive a rates rebate of up to 50% on the general rate for the area covered by the agreement. To maintain eligibility, a Land for Wildlife officer will undertake an annual audit of the property’s management plan.

To receive the rebate each year, landholders are required to match the rebate value through either financial contributions or in-kind conservation work.

For further information contact Council’s Environmental Planning and Biodiversity department by telephone (07) 5540 5111.