Reedy Creek

The Reedy Creek Reserve was donated to Bush Heritage by Michael and Dellarose Baevski. 

It is situated on the southern Queensland coast just south of Agnes Water. Melaleuca forests and threatened vine forests are protected here. Fifteen species of mammal are safeguarded on the reserve, as well as at least 163 species of birds, six species of frogs and 24 species of reptiles. 

Reedy Creek Reserve has remnant vegetation and coastal habitats in one of Queensland’s prime coastal zones. The Reedy Creek Reserve lies on the coast adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and on the northern edge of the Deepwater National Park.

Headlands, beach dunes and threatened vine forests, as well as loggerhead and green turtle nesting areas are under Bush Heritage management at Reedy Creek Reserve near Agnes Water. The threatened Dunmall’s snake and beach stone-curlew now have a safe refuge.

Reedy Creek Reserve provides Bush Heritage with a unique opportunity to protect a remnant of quality habitat in one of the most expensive, intensely used and depleted natural environments along the eastern coastline of Australia.

The property came to Bush Heritage under unusual circumstances. During the 1990s the Baevski family purchased around 600 hectares of land from a mining company that had bought the property for possible sand mining. As part of their purchase agreement the Baevskis persuaded the Queensland Government to ‘sterilise’ the mining exploration leases on this and other areas of land along a seven-kilometre stretch of coastline.

Of the area purchased, a total of 148 hectares has been set aside by the Baevskis for housing and common areas of native vegetation. They have applied strict guidelines to vegetation clearing, site construction and landscape management in each private lot and in the common property areas. Water and energy conservation and reuse are a priority and stringent rules apply to waste management, the use of endemic species in gardens, and the introduction of pets. About fifteen hectares, or around two per cent of the total land area, will be cleared for housing and infrastructure. Most of the house sites have been sold.

The land adjoining the development has significant conservation values and has been given to Bush Heritage by Michael and Dellarose Baevski. The land is on a separate, freehold title and will be permanently owned and managed by Bush Heritage.

An additional parcel of land has been gifted to the Aboriginal traditional owners and an environmental education centre is planned for use by both visitors and residents.

Each homebuyer in the new development will pay a compulsory annual environmental levy. For at least the next 25 years the levy will come to Bush Heritage to manage and to care for the Reedy Creek Reserve and common property areas on the adjoining residential section. Bush Heritage will also manage much of the land down to the foreshore including the headland habitats, coastal dunes and turtle-breeding areas.

The total cost of managing Reedy Creek Reserve will be covered by this environmental levy, so no donations will be required either to acquire or manage this new reserve.