We’ve provided answers to the most frequently asked questions on the purchase and protection of Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. 

A developer subdivided land in the Daintree into 1,100 blocks. 

Isn’t the Daintree protected in a National Park and World Heritage Area?

Two-thirds of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest was excluded from inclusion in the Daintree National Park and World Heritage Area that was declared in 1988. In the mid 1980’s a pro-development Queensland State Government had rezoned leasehold and freehold in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, enabling a developer to subdivide it into 1,100 blocks. This resulted in the building of over 50 km of roads and the clearing and development of high conservation value rainforest for housing.

Please make a donation now online.

What about Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive?

As Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive is a freehold property it was not included in the declaration of the expanded Daintree National Park and World Heritage Area that was declared in 1988. It is zoned by the Douglas Shire Council as suitable for development. This very special property urgently needs to be purchased and protected. It has two distinct ecosystems, lowland tropical rainforest, and a dryer sclerophyll forest. Six Threatened plant species have been found on the property that are listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This includes the Thornton Aspen, a rare plant previously found at only six locations between the Daintree River and Bloomfield to the north.

The purchase of Lot 3 will protect two distinct ecosystems

A small creek runs through the property and there are many beautiful Fan Palms. There is evidence of Cassowaries (lots of scats or droppings) and Bennetts Tree-kangaroos have recently been sighted nearby. The property has interesting geology with metamorphic rocks that support the dryer sclerophyll open woodland.

The rainforest vegetation type which covers 60% of the property is classified as Notophyll Vine Forest (Regional Ecosystem 7.11.12a), which has a biodiversity status of ‘Endangered’ under the VM Act, 1999. The dryer sclerophyll forest which covers 40% of the property is classified as Regional Ecosystem 7.11.40a), which has a biodiversity status of Concern under the VM Act, 1999.

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Map showing Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest with the Daintree National Park to the right

More information on Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive?

• Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive is located in Forest Creek, a locality immediately north of the Daintree River. 
• It is 1.43 ha in size (14,300 sqm). With a purchase price of $75,000 or $5.25 per sqm. A long-time donor has provided $3,750 for the deposit. This reduced the funds required to $71,250 or less than $5 per sqm meter.
• This is the cheapest way to protect habitat for the endangered species including the Southern Cassowary and Bennetts Tree-kangaroo.
• Buying Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive and protecting this property will be a fantastic outcome for conservation as it connects to the Daintree National Park and World Heritage Area.  
• Purchasing land in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest helps wind back the impacts of the disastrous 1980’s subdivision.
• A survey by ecologist Kristopher Kupsch identified 170 species of plants on the property that will also be protected including six Threatened species.
• The property is covered by native vegetation and there are no weeds or remediation work required. 
• Donors receive a tangible outcome for their contribution. A donation of $5 purchases and protects one sqm of land at Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive.
• Purchasing Lot 3 Thornton Peak Drive for conservation will remove the threat of development.
• Once purchased the property will be owned and managed by the Rainforest 4 Foundation. The Rainforest 4 Foundation (ABN 49 628 358 323) is registered with the Australian Government as a Company Limited by Guarantee (a non-profit organisation) and with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.
• All donations are tax-deductible and are received into the Bunya Sustainability Fund.
• Please make a donation now online.

Other Ways to Donate

Cheque or Money Order: 

You can donate by sending a cheque or money order made out to the Bunya Sustainability Fund to 27 Tuckeroo Avenue, Mullumbimby, NSW 2482.

Direct Deposit: If you would like to donate by direct deposit, the account details are:

Bank: ANZ Bank

Account Name: Bunya Sustainability Fund

BSB: 012 742

Account No. 2093 50036

If you contribute by direct deposit, please send an email to [email protected] with the details of the amount and any preference you have for supporting a project. Please also provide your name and postal address so we can issue a receipt.

PayPal:

You Can donate using your PayPal account by sending your donation to [email protected]

Direct Deposit: If you would like to donate by direct deposit, the account details are:

Bank: ANZ Bank

Account Name: Bunya Sustainability Fund

BSB: 012 742

Account No. 2093 50036

If you contribute by direct deposit, please send an email to [email protected] with the details of the amount and any preference you have for supporting a project. Please also provide your name and postal address so we can issue a receipt.

CASH DONATIONS: You can make cash deposits at any branch of the ANZ Bank or their agents. The account details are:

Bank: ANZ Bank

Account Name: Bunya Sustainability Fund

BSB: 012 742

Account No. 2093 50036

If you contribute by a cash deposit, please send an email to [email protected] with the details of the amount and any preference you have for supporting a project. Please also provide your name and postal address so we can issue a receipt.

Road Closures.

Through successful land buyback programs that began in 1992, some of the roads created for subdivision can now be closed as all of the surrounding lands have been purchased and added to the Daintree National Park. With full support from Douglas Shire Council, five service roads were fully closed and planted between November 2018 and April 2019. 

A road in Cow Bay that was closed and revegetated in November 2018.

Are the Traditional Owners involved?

The Eastern Kuku Yalanji people are the owners of the Daintree Rainforest. Their country runs along the East Coast of Far North Queensland and it includes land and sea between Port Douglas and just south of Cooktown. The Eastern Kuku Yalanji have a rich cultural identity and strong spiritual connection to Daintree Rainforest and the Rainforest 4 Foundation support their ongoing work in Caring for Country. 

Please make a donation now online.

Where is the Daintree Rainforest?

The Daintree Rainforest is a large area of tropical rainforest in Far North Queensland that extends from Mossman Gorge (80km north of Cairns) to Cape Tribulation (110km north of Cairns). It includes large areas of rainforest-clad mountains. Between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, the rainforest is continuous from the mountain to the sea and when many people speak of the Daintree, they are often referring to this area, which is known as the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.

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Can I visit the Daintree Rainforest?

Yes, it's quite easy to visit the Daintree Lowland Rainforest as tourism is established. You can make a day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas or stay for as long as you like. There are many tour operators in the Daintree Rainforest tourism business that you can find online. Self-drive tourism is also very popular and the land we are purchasing for conservation is easily accessed by a 2WD vehicle.

If we don't reach the fundraising target, what will happen to my donation?  

We want to be successful, now and into the future, so we carefully choose the properties we want to purchase for conservation. We have a plan to reach the fundraising target needed to buy each property. We purchase them one at a time, we space out the acquisitions and we give consideration to the total cost and the success of past fundraising. Of course, nothing is guaranteed and if we are unable to reach the target for a specified property purchase the donated monies will be used for a future purchase or for other conservation projects in the Daintree Rainforest, for example, planting trees. The Rainforest 4 Foundation is registered with the Australian Charites and Non-for-profits Commission and we are required to only spend the donations we receive on the cause as specified in our constitution. 

How can I make a donation to purchase and protect Lot 107 Buchanan Creek Road in the Daintree Rainforest?

Yes, you can make a donation now online. If you want to donate with a cheque/money order or through a direct deposit, please see our Ways to Donate page.

If you have any questions about the purchase and protection of Lot 107 Buchanan Creek Road please contact us or call Kelvin Davies on 0437 423 119.