Important koala habitat in southeast Queensland will be protected from development after it was revealed money earmarked for a research centre was spent on a theme park rollercoaster.
A four square kilometre site on the Gold Coast will become a dedicated conservation area as the state government proceeds with its nearby Coomera Connector road project.
"We know the Gold Coast is a growing city, and we also know that there are land developments happening around Pimpama and Coomera, and this means that our furry friends ... will be protected forevermore," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told ABC television on Tuesday.
