Perhaps there will be a future for this Koala in south east Queensland!
Photo © wpsq

Clearing will be banned in priority bushland habitat, some residential areas will need special design and the State Government will purchase key habitat under a new plan to save the koalas in south east Queensland (SEQ) according to the Queensland  government press statements.

Wildlife Queensland cautiously welcomes this action but fears it may not be enough to save the koalas in SEQ. This action can only be viewed as a deposit, a down payment, a small step in the right direction but at least it is action not words.

Wildlife Queensland has been campaigning for years along with other groups for the protection of koalas in SEQ. In June 2009 correspondence was sent to the Premier, Hon Anna Bligh and the Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change, Hon Kate Jones about the ongoing decline in the koala population in SEQ. Wildlife Queensland advocated a number of strategies including the need for legislative protection of koala habitat and funds to acquire key habitat.

On the surface it appears that Government has listened.

The package to halt the decline in koala numbers in SEQ includes:

• $15 million focused on buying new habitat and rehabilitating existing habitat
• Compulsory acquisition powers for koala habitat outside the urban footprint
• New planning laws for councils to minimise koala impacts when assessing development applications in key koala areas
• New controls for Councils to ban dogs in new developments in koala habitat
• New planning laws to allow land swaps in and outside the urban footprint for strategic koala habitat corridors

These new measures together with the State Government’s new detailed habitat mapping will provide the greatest protection of koalas ever seen in south east Queensland according to the Hon. Kate Jones.

Government is to be commended on providing $15M for land acquisition in today’s economic climate. However that level of funding will not acquire extensive holdings considering the high cost of land and surely can only be viewed as a down payment. Creative use of this funding will need to be explored to achieve the best outcome for the koala. The Koala Coast and Pine Rivers in SEQ will receive priority attention.

The jury is out on whether or not the new State Planning provisions will in fact protect the bulk of key koala habitat. Administrative bans have been put in place to prevent pre-emptive clearing until the new regulations become law. However there appears to be a large number of exemptions. The draft legislation continues to place habitat at risk and unfortunately past history indicates government has no hesitation in clearing koala habitat.

The State Government has taken a controlled, measured small step in protecting the koala population and need to be commended. Whether or not this action will arrest the decline only time will tell. Hopefully our future generations will be able to experience what we can today- the joy of seeing koalas in the wild in their natural surroundings.

More about the koala crisis in south-east Queensland.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.