SUNSHINE Coast Council will spend $28 million during the next four years in a desperate bid to retain and enhance the remains of what was once considered one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.

Studies show eight flora species are endangered and a further 29 are listed for concern as the pressure of population growth impacts on the natural environment.

Council’s biodiversity strategy released this week earmarks $19.6 million to buy environmentally-significant land and a further $8.3 million for community grants and partnerships to rejuvenate degraded vegetation.

The projects would be funded from the environment levy which collects $9 million annually.

The council will settle next week on the $1.125 million purchase of 37ha of land of outstanding biodiversity values to extend the Ringtail Creek Conservation area.

The purchase has been supported by $800,000 worth of federal funding.

The council is also nearing purchase of a $1.4 million Cooroibah property to connect existing conservation areas.

Two other properties are also being actively pursued.

“We always try to extend environment levy funding by accessing grants from other levels of government, but we can’t do that without the levy,” environment head Cr Keryn Jones said.

Before the 2009-10 financial year a further four properties valued at $4.98 million were purchased with the last settling in October, 2009.

The Commonwealth provided $1.689m towards the cost.

The council would also look at the purchase of land to establish permanent nature covenants before on-selling the properties.

The region has 133,500ha of remnant vegetation, over half of which is in private ownership and 6674ha within the urban footprint.

The biodiversity strategy would guide investment in key environmental programs, provide a platform for landscape protection and restoration and inform the regional planning scheme.

Cr Jones said improved mapping of the natural habitat would drive a strategy that aimed to protect, enhance and connect key areas of biodiversity.

She said the environment levy was critical to the process.

Ms Jones said the good will and support of the State Government would vastly improve council’s ability to maintain the environmental advantage that not only was the tourism industry’s competitive edge, but also acted as an attraction to business and enhanced community well being.

She said the state’s failure to support the requirement that Stockland provide 2000ha of rehabilitated land to offset the impact of the 2100 ha Caloundra South development was a big hit for the environment.

The council would use mapping to develop the more detailed planning needed to determine the region’s appropriate residential growth capacity regardless of the push to boost population to 497,000.