WORK will start this month on an upgrade of roads and car parks at the busy Venman Bushland National Park at Mt Cotton.
Capalaba MP Don Brown said the car park and entry road provided access for more than 40,000 visitors each year.
“Venman Bushland National Park has been a popular Brisbane recreation area for decades and I am pleased to announce improved access for visitors,” Mr Brown said.
“The Palaszczuk Government will seal the main access road and car park, install functional bollards and line mark parking spaces.
“The area gets a lot of traffic, with tens of thousands of visitors each year. The new road will better withstand the high volumes of traffic and increase safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.’’
Venman’s is part of Queensland’s first coordinated conservation area – the Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area.
It links Venman’s, Daisy Hill Regional Park, Neville Lawrie Reserve, Don and Christine Burnett Conservation Area and Ford Road Conservation Area to make up a combined area of 1170 ha of bushland.
Potecting one of the most intact natural koala habitats between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the park is named for cattleman and businessman Jack Venman who lived there in a shack.
In 1971 when developers showed an interest in the place, Mr Venman sold it to the old Albert Shire Council for $1 so it could be saved as natural bushland.
Mr Brown said visitors to the park would notice the transformation to the main access area, with works to be finished next year.
“The upgrade will improve accessibility to the national park, home to a wide range of native wildlife, and popular for family picnics, walks, horse and bike riding,’’ he said.
“The upgrade will also reduce the need for regular maintenance such as pothole repairs,” Mr Brown said.