The tree, which grows to between 3 and 12 metres with glossy, deep green foliage, is known as Gossia gonoclada, and it was named after Wayne Goss, Queensland’s 34th premier. Logan City Council took on responsibility for conservation efforts in 2019, after a 2001 study identified that only 73 Gossia gonoclada trees currently exist worldwide, and 64 of those are found in Logan.
According to Councillor Jon Raven, Environment Chair and Deputy Mayor, a key objective of the council’s 10-year strategy is land acquisition for habitat conservation, which is to be funded through an existing environment levy. Printing services can be used to communicate with constituents about such levies and their uses.
In a statement about the plant species, Raven said:
"The long-term goal would be to have it all over the city in places where it would grow naturally so people can enjoy it, understand the value of it and the hard work that went into keeping it alive."
Conservation efforts have continued in recent months through a team led by Lee-Anne Veage, an environmental planning officer. The team has finished planting around 160 saplings throughout the city in a further attempt to shore-up the endangered species.
In addition, the team has also been working with researchers on hand-pollination to generate viable seed stock, and it has had some success with growth from cuttings. Six repropagated trees can be found in the Logan Gardens.