Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House valid reasons why Deongwar is worthy of transition to the conservation estate prior to 31 December 2024:

• Transitioning Deongwar to the conservation estate aligns with the Queensland State Government's 2019 commitment to transition 20,000 hectares of State Forest prior to 31 December 2024.

• No land acquisition costs to Queensland residents to acquire Deongwar.

• No compensable encumbrances beyond mid 2024 that would impede its transition.

• A culturally significant area for the regions First Nations people.

• Majority of Queensland residents want to see more areas added to our conservation estate.

• An engaged regional tourism sector seeking opportunities for ecologically appropriate low impact recreational use of Deongwar.

• 4871 hectares of intact native forest including extensive scenic rocky creek systems and associated rainforest.

• An important central node of high elevation climate change refugia within the South East Queensland Biodiversity corridor.

• Significantly, Deongwar contains no commercial exotic pine plantation.

• A young forest that will sequester carbon at a linear rate for hundreds of years.

• Habitat for 146 protected native animals and home to 94 native plant species.

• 2661 hectares of regionally refined and core koala habitat.

• 311 hectares of Endangered Blackbutt Woodland.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to kindly, and thoughtfully, consider the merits of promptly transitioning Deongwar to the conservation estate to protect our Nature, cultural heritage and outdoor lifestyle for the benefit of all Queensland residents and future generations.