Achievements

NPAQ is one of the oldest and most enduring environmental organisations in Queensland, having formed in 1930.

70% of Queensland’s National Parks

Since our foundation, about 70% of all national parks in Queensland were either gazetted or extended following recommendations made to the State Government by NPAQ. The list includes iconic parks such as Girraween and Springbrook, Glass House Mountains, Hinchinbrook, Eungella, Munga-Thirri (Simpson Desert) and World Heritage Areas such as the upper sections of the Daintree. Many national parks in existence today, which are enjoyed by Queenslanders and visitors to the state, are a result of the persistence and tenacity of NPAQ and its members.

Marine National Parks

NPAQ started work on Marine National Parks in 1967 and by June 1968 had submitted requests to the Commonwealth Government and to the Queensland Government for the enactment of laws providing for Marine National Parks and to both governments for three Marine National Parks based on the Great Barrier Reef. Of these, Northern, Central and Southern, we are pleased that at last in 1979 agreement was reached on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Part – Capricorn Section. This section is remarkably close to the southern section of the map we lodged with both governments in 1968. (This was published in NPA News in April 1969). Both governments enacted laws covering the establishment of Marine National Parks – Queensland in 1971 and the Commonwealth some years later.

Recent achievements:

  • 2020: Private development leases, if approved in a national park, will require a “cash” bond and independent assurance. 

  • 2020: The scale of accommodation being proposed has been reduced to a relatively small scale, modest and removable. 

  • 2019: gained Environment Minister’s support for NPAQ’s Yabba Links National Park Proposal (potential for 20,000 hectare new national park)

  • 2019: Helped prevent exclusive access of a marine national park to a commercial operator (avoided setting a very concerning precedent) at Cape Hillsborough Beach

  • 2018: NPAQ successful campaign against revocation of part of Lindeman Islands National Park

  • 2018: Coordinated formation of Protected Area Alliance: 23 eNGOs signed joint statement

  • 2017-2018: Produced highly successful Kids in National Parks booklets for South East Queensland and Tropical North Queensland

  • 2016: Helped partially restore the cardinal principle and mandatory park management planning and consultation to the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld)

  • 2015: Helped prevent zipline in Kondalilla Falls National Park

  • 2013: NPAQ successful campaign preventing extension of stock grazing in national parks

*Also check out a Timeline of NPAQ’s achievements over the years, and a short history of NPAQ’s Legacy.