$8.7 million investment in koala habitat, vaccine research

• The Miles Government is investing $8.7 million to help protect Queensland’s iconic koalas.
• Queensland Trust for Nature and Healthy Land & Water will share in $8.5 million to regenerate and restore koala habitats
• A further $200,000 will go towards research into koala chlamydia by Queensland University of Technology and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The Miles Government is investing $8.7 million to restore crucial habitat and address a key disease threat to the iconic koala.

Two organisations - Queensland Trust for Nature and Healthy Land & Water - will share in $8.5 million for habitat restoration while Queensland University of Technology and the University of the Sunshine Coast will share in $200,000 for research into koala chlamydia.

Queensland Trust for Nature will receive $5 million to continue its Koala Habitat Restoration Partnership Program. The program aims to increase the amount of koala habitat restored in key priority areas through collaborations with landholders and local governments.

Since the Koala Habitat Restoration Partnership Program began, 14 project sites across council-owned and private land have been established to restore more than 400 hectares of koala habitat through a combination of revegetation and assisted natural regeneration.

The extension of the program will support the recruitment of further landholders and significantly expand the area of habitat of being restored.

The $3.5 million provided to Healthy Land & Water will enable the continuation of the Restore and Reconnect: SEQ Koala Habitat project and support the organisation to extend its partnerships with local governments and regional natural resource managers to increase efforts to restore and regenerate koala habitat.

The Miles Government has identified habitat restoration as one of six action areas in the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-25, which includes a target to restore 10,000 hectares of koala habitat.

Queensland University of Technology and the University of the Sunshine Coast will receive $100,000 each to progress the development and registration of a koala chlamydia vaccine to enable wildlife hospitals, veterinarians and wildlife carers to support broadscale vaccination of wild and captive koalas.

Chlamydial disease is recognised as a significant threat to koala populations and is the leading cause of disease in koalas, causing high morbidity and mortality with clinical (chlamydial) disease observed in 30% of surveyed animals in SEQ.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Innovation Leanne Linard:

“The Miles Government is doing what matters and protecting and conserving our iconic koalas and their habitat.

“This funding further demonstrates our commitment to koala conservation and signals a united effort across government and community to safeguard the future for koalas and the unique ecosystems they inhabit.

“The Miles Government is already a national leader of koala conservation, through our SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-2025, which includes the strongest koala habitat protections ever.

“Under our strategy, vast tracts of essential koala habitat are being conserved and restored, and those areas will be carefully managed to ensure they continue to provide food, shelter, and safety for koalas and other wildlife.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Trust for Nature Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Liz O’Brien:

"This additional funding will enable QTFN to significantly increase the amount of koala habitat that we are restoring and reconnecting through strategic projects across South East Queensland.

"We look forward to collaborating further with private landholders, government, and the wider community to create lasting outcomes for koalas.

“This investment by the Queensland Government in koala habitat restoration is a great step towards supporting the survival of such a well-loved and iconic species in South East Queensland”

Quotes attributable of Queensland Trust for Nature Restoration Project Manager, David Madden:

"This additional funding will support QTFN to expand koala habitat in South East Queensland through bringing new landholders on board to do revegetation and assisted natural regeneration projects

“We are excited to continue supporting private landholders in doing koala habitat restoration, to grow and maintain the amount of quality habitat on their properties.

“We look forward to growing the amount of quality habitat for koalas in South East Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Healthy Land & Water Chief Executive Officer, Julie McLellan:

“Healthy Land & Water is right behind the ambitious goal of rehabilitating 10,000 hectares of koala habitat.

“Restoring and connecting habitats is essential for the survival of koalas, particularly in the face of growing environmental challenges in our growing and climate-affected region.

“This funding enables us to broaden and continue our vital work in koala conservation across South East Queensland. It means we can actively advance our efforts on multiple fronts, from hands-on habitat restoration and monitoring the work to strengthening and building on collaborative partnerships fostered in past initiatives with the wide range of stakeholders.

“The great thing about the way we roll out restoration works is the myriad of co-benefits that benefit our environment, landholders, communities and First Nations peoples by providing habitat for other species and ecosystems, reducing erosion, supporting pest management and more.

“We are excited to keep contributing directly to the SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy.”

ENDS

Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339