Greater security for koalas in SEQ

Koalas in south-east Queensland are well on their way to scoring greater protection as the Queensland Government’s $2.1 million Koala Conservation Plan reaches its one year mark.

Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr has hailed as a milestone, completion of the first development application by a local council following Environmental Protection Agency assessment under the Koala Conservation Plan which came into effect last October.

“Development of five rural residential lots in Pine Rivers Shire to the north of Brisbane is being undertaken with a number of koala-specific conditions required by the EPA.

“Essentially, the Koala Conservation Plan enables state and local governments and developers to work together to secure positive outcomes for koala protection by taking the cuddly marsupials and their habitat into account.

“A further six development applications considered by the EPA are being finalised by the relevant councils,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

Koala-friendly provisions include:
• Designated building sites within existing cleared areas to be set aside for the location of houses and associated infrastructure.
• Koala habitat trees of four metres or more in height to be retained outside building areas.
• Habitat to be rehabilitated on each new lot with locally-derived seed stock.
• Rehabilitation to consist of 150 koala habitat trees and 200 understorey plants, in harmony with the surrounding regional ecosystem on each lot.
• Developers required to undertake rehabilitation maintenance for two years, including weed removal, tree management and erosion control.
• Fencing around each new lot boundary and containment of domestic dogs within designated building areas by way of koala exclusion fencing, and
• Koala signage showing 30km/hr speed limit at the entrance to allotments.

Ms Nelson-Carr said the outcome validates the Government’s decision to introduce the Koala Conservation Plan. “

“There have been a range of positive outcomes from the first year of implementing the Koala Conservation Plan” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“Caloundra City Council and a joint application by Caboolture Shire Council, Pine Rivers Shire Council and Redcliffe City Council with assistance of SEQ Catchments were successful in the first funding round made available to SEQ local governments to undertake additional koala habitat mapping under the Koala Plan.

“The koala habitat mapping is to be incorporated into local government planning schemes and the State Koala Habitat Map.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said another benefit of the Koala Conservation Plan is the focus on reducing the threat from dogs.

“Many Queenslanders don’t realise that dog attacks are the fourth most significant cause of death for koalas behind car strikes, habitat clearing and disease. And worse still, koalas that are stressed, such as through a dog attack are more prone to disease.

“However as part of the Koala Conservation Plan’s ongoing education program, approximately 1000 people have signed “pledges” to become koala-sensitive dog owners.
“This includes simple actions such as keeping your dog inside or housing it in a kennel at night, or keeping koalas out and away from your dog with a koala exclusion fence around your property. By doing this we can enjoy our pets and our native animals too.

“Schools have also become involved with Slack’s Creek State School and Emmaus College, Jimboomba recently establishing Koala Fodder Plantations.

“Implementing the Koala Conservation Plan has built on the ongoing research in collaboration with the University of Queensland and industry partners and continuing a strong commitment to first class rehabilitation of sick and injured koalas at the Moggill Koala Hospital.

“The Beattie Government is committed to protecting koalas now and for the future.

“The Koala Conservation Plan is a workable, collaborative means of achieving that crucial goal.”

Media contact: 3336 8002