Friends of Deception Bay Conservation Park Inc.

The Deception Bay Conservation Park, with a total area of 170 hectares, is a significant parcel of land stretching from the site of the Dept. of Primary Industries Southern Fisheries Centre, Joseph Crescent, Deception Bay in the south to approximately Burpengary Creek in the north. I have included a map of the area which illustrates the confines of the park.

These wetlands are of spectacular beauty and great biodiversity and are a natural habitat for scores of familiar and rare species of flora and fauna. The park is also a significant refuge for migratory birds from as far away as China, Siberia and Alaska. This site will also help protect adjacent beds of sea-grass, which are vital fish nurseries and provide essential food for dugong and turtles.

The Friends of the Deception Bay Conservation Park was formed at its inaugural meeting on 2 March 2010 and will be working closely with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. While the Friends of the Deception Bay Conservation Park Association is still in its infancy, the management committee is undertaking the necessary administrative duties and setting objectives to ensure that the Association fulfils its responsibilities. All members of the Friends of the Deception Bay Conservation Park are volunteers and each will perform an invaluable service to the park and the community by helping to protect and revegetate the area and by educating the local community and visitors.

It is anticipated that visitors to the area will eventually be able to enjoy the park through the construction of boardwalks and bird hides with guided walking tours and flat bottom boat tours on the everglades at high tide.

As it can be expected that volunteers will play a major part in caring for the park, the Friends of the Deception Bay Conservation Park Association is presently in the volunteer recruitment phase. As volunteer coordinator of the Association, I am encouraging any person who can assist in this endeavour to enlist as a volunteer. Once all the duty of care procedures are in place we will be ready to commence taking care of the park.

If you have an interest in the Deception Bay Conservation Park and are able to assist with the protection of this precious ecosystem, I look forward to discussing this with you in the near future.