Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road

Action: Purchase and protection of Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road (Lot 8 RP737397)

Area: 1 hectare  

Location: Cow Bay, Daintree Lowland Rainforest, Queensland

Vegetation type: Regional Ecosystem 7.3.10a: Mesophyll vine forest on moderately to poorly-drained alluvial plains, of moderate fertility. Lowlands of the very wet and wet zone. RE 7.3.10a is listed as “Of Concern” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999

Threatened Species: Southern Cassowary, Macleay's Fig-parrot, Noah's Walnut, China Camp Laurel, Grey's Walnut

Rehabilitation is occurring on this property to remove exotic plants and restore an area of rainforest cleared in the past. Once that has been completed, the property will be added to the Pathway to Protection process and be assessed for inclusion in the Daintree National Park (CYPAL). 

Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest

Purchase of Daintree's Lot 8 

The high biodiversity and spectacular tropical rainforest at Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road justified its immediate purchase and protection. The Daintree Lowland Rainforest is a living museum and Lot 8 Buchannan Creek Road is an important refuge for biodiversity. 

Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road at Cow Bay shares a boundary with the Daintree National Park and World Heritage Area. 

Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road could have been developed for housing, subject to approval by the Douglas Shire Council, just as nearby properties have been in the past. Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road was created through the subdivision of land in 1982. It has been resold a number of times. Fortunately, the multiple owners failed to realise their homebuilding dream. The property is reasonably flat, and in preparation for building, a previous owner created a road and cleared a house pad. Now that we have purchased this property, we have ensured the rainforest is protected from the threat of development and the small clearing will be restored.   

Kelvin Davies with Fan Palms on Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road

A feature of the property is the many beautiful Fan Palms (Licuala ramsayi) and Zamia Ferns (Bowenia spectabilis). 

Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road is located at Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Buying land in this location helps us to reverse the impacts of the disastrous 1980s rural residential subdivision. We are focusing our efforts at Cow Bay as scientists have identified this area as providing an “Essential habitat for the Endangered Southern Cassowary”.

Cassowaries have been sighted on Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road, and on nearby properties.

Southern Cassowary in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest

Our survey of Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road identified the presence of the Cooper Creek Haplostichanthus (Polyalthia xanthocarpa), which grows as an understorey shrub to 3m in height. It is endemic to the rainforests of the Daintree lowlands and the large majority of records come from the vicinity of the Cow Bay — Cape Tribulation area. It is a recently described species formally recognised in 2007 as Haplostichanthus ramiflorus and then redescribed as Polyalthia xanthocarpa in 2012.

Cooper Creek Haplostichanthus

We found many specimens of the Black Palm (Normanbya normanbyi) on Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road. This single-stemmed palm grows up to 30m tall, and the fruits are eaten by the endangered Southern Cassowary.

Protecting Lot 8 Buchanan Creek Road at Cow Bay, is a fantastic outcome for conservation as it will prevent another house from being built in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. 

Fruit of the Black Palm 

Lot 8 Buchannan Creek Road