WPSQ Issues: Expansion means extinction for Redlands koalas

Redland Shire koalas need our support to protect their habitat from urban development. Redland Shire Council wants to develop bushland in koala population areas despite evidence that habitat loss is a major cause of plummeting koala populations in the shire. Wildlife Queensland Bayside Branch want to stop them.

This is not just a local issue. Koala populations are in decline statewide. Everyone interested in conserving Queensland wildlife should support Bayside Branch.

Koalas versus development

The Koala Summit organised by Redland Shire Council, held in Alexandra Hills in 3-4 November 2007, passed several pro conservation resolutions, including:

Aim to bring koala numbers in the shire up to a viable 6000
Limit urban development to reduce impacts on wildlife
State and local authorities must use planning to reduce car strike deaths.

Days after the summit, the Redland Shire Council announced plans to open up land in southern Redland Bay for urban development. This is land that supports koalas and is adjacent to core koala habitat. More development brings more cars and more dogs.

Koalas decline on the Koala Coast

Koala numbers in Redlands Shire have dropped by 27% since 2000. The current population is about 4600; a sustainable population should be 5000-6000 animals. Major causes of koala numbers decline are habitat loss, car strike, dog attack. All of these impacts are worsened by urban development in koala habitat.

What you can do

We enabled people to sign a Queensland Parliament ePetition sponsored by Phil Weightman MP that asked state government for protection of vegetation on the Koala Coast, including Redland Shire. (petition closed 31 March 2008.)
Wildlife Queensland President, Simon Baltais, was a member of the Koala Taskforce that made strong recommendations to the Queensland Premier about urgent action to conserve remaining koala populations in South-East Queensland.
Wildlife Queensland branches in areas with significant koala habitat have members who are active in koala conservation.

More information

More information is available on the Wildlife Queensland Bayside Branch website.

For more information on WPSQ's campaigns, email or phone +61 (7) 3221 0194.