admin@koalagroup.asn.au
The Koala Action Group has received disturbing reports
of the government’s weakening of the proposed Koala State Planning Policy at
the behest of developer interests. We are also concerned at the delay in the
SPP’s taking regulatory effect. As you are aware, koalas are in a perilous
position in the
KAG was extremely gratified at the State Government’s
removal of the 900 hectares from the urban footprint in the
However, it is disturbing that the DERM
Director-General has been reported as stating that the State Planning
Regulatory Provisions habitat retention requirements will not apply in
structure plan areas that have already been through the State interest
process. The South
It is also worrying when the Director-General intimates that the 30% habitat retention requirement under the SPRP is only a “probable solution” and ways may be found around such a requirement. This is also not acceptable! Our group would like immediate refutation of the above two points if the government is to retain any credibility in its efforts to protect the koala population of South East Queensland.
Lynn Roberts BSc (KAG Policy Advisor)
Cc Hon. Kate Jones Minister for DERM; Hon Stirling Hinchcliffe Minister for DIP; Michael Choi MLA
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Front page article from November December 2009 Newsletter
This year’s phone-in koala survey again highlighted the importance of
retaining mature koala food trees in the urban areas, particularly in
suburbs such as Cleveland, Ormiston, Thorneside and Wellington Point where
more than half (70) of the koala sightings over the weekend October 24-25
were reported.
If we want to keep these amazing animals in our neighbourhood, residents
must provide ways to allow them easier access to mature trees on their
property - a critical factor for the koala’s survival.
Koalas, unlike some other tree dwelling animals need to move across the
ground in order to get to another tree for food and shelter and at that time
are extremely vulnerable. Analysing the feedback from the residents we spoke
to on the survey days it confirmed that fences are an impediment to their
movement and dogs on private property remain a significant problem. Simple,
but effective solutions for both these problems are a post leaned against a
fence that a koala can use to climb up and over and for yards to remain dog
free at night.
The survey results once again showed that many koalas remain in and
around urban land that is zoned for future development. It is clear that
State and Federal government funding is essential to accelerate acquisition
of properties in significant koala habitat.
Disturbingly, it was reported that several large koala food trees were
cut down on private property in Cleveland on the survey weekend in an area
that had good numbers of koala sightings. For survey results see FAQ section of KAG website)
KAG welcomes the State Government’s recent announcement that it will put
controls in place to ban dogs in new developments in the Koala Coast and
Pine Rivers areas and will make available $15million to buy and rehabilitate
land “to increase the size and quality of koala habitat in SEQ”.
However, it must be noted that the urban koala population is most at risk
from continuing infill development resulting in habitat loss and mortality
from cars and dogs. Recent studies proved that bushland koala populations
rely on migration from urban koalas, and therefore will also continue to
decline. Whilst we commend the move to ban dogs in new developments, dogs on
existing private property remain a key threat to koalas.
KAG looks forward to further consultation with Government through the
Koala Taskforce, which we are advised will reconvene in the near future.
(Read the full Government report: www.derm.qld.gov.au)
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Front page article from July August 2009 Newsletter
KAG is fully supportive of Redland City Council's (RCC) moves to halt the
alarming decline of koalas, the icon of the Redlands and the official
Queensland state fauna emblem.
The action taken by RCC is in response to the recently released State
Government report "Decline of the Koala Coast Koalas 2008", which
implies that without urgent action, koalas in the Koala Coast region will be
extinct in the next couple of years.
Extra funding has been allocated in the Council budget to continue acquiring
koala habitat and increase community awareness. Council has requested that
the State Government also provide funding to assist with their acquisition
program.
Council continue to implement an extensive tree planting program to
strengthen corridor linkages and have introduced incentive programs to help
protect habitat on private properties.
Other initiatives that KAG believes must be implemented immediately
are; upgrade listing of koalas to ‘endangered’, night time containment of
dogs across the city, return of koala speed zones as an interim measure
until fauna crossings are in place, greater protection of individual habitat
trees in the urban areas by undergrounding power lines etc. and no further
expansion of the urban footprint.
Our group shares the Council's concerns about the recent clear felling of
koala habitat on State Government owned land at Thornlands and fear that the
State Government's pro-development agenda will continue with little regard
of the consequences for koalas and the natural environment.
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As reported in the KAG newsletter, a report released by the State
Government shows that koalas are continuing to rapidly decline with a 51%
loss in the last 3 years and if the current rate of decline continues there
will be fewer than 500 koalas left in the Koala Coast region by 2010.
KAG strongly urges members and friends to write letters and emails to the
State Government to express outrage at this disturbing trend.
The full report, "Decline of the Koala Coast Koala Population: Population
Status in 2008” by Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM)
can be viewed on EPA
The State Government's pro-development agenda appears to
continue unabated with the release of the Draft South East Queensland
Regional Plan 2009-2031.
Please see below some points that can be used in letters to the State
Government in response to the new report: (NOTE: Every point headed Fact: is
directly from the report)
The seriousness of the situation. (use your own words to express your
dismay, outrage etc.)
Fact: The koalas in the Koala Coast are in severe decline (51% decline in
less than three years and 64% decline in ten years).
Reasons for this catastrophic decline.
Fact: The greatest decline has been in bushland areas which is a flow-on
from the excessive habitat loss and mortality in the urban areas.
The government is wrong in assuming they can protect koalas by securing
bushland areas and allowing “koala friendly development” in the urban
footprint.
Fact: The importance of the urban koala population in bolstering the
bushland population has previously been underestimated.
The draft South East Queensland Regional Plan must be changed or the fate
of koalas will be sealed. We must encourage the government to rethink these
aspects of the plan in light of the new information:
Fact: Unabated clearing of koala habitat for development in SEQ is placing a
great deal of pressure on the survival of the koala.
1. The projected increase in human population in the Redlands is
incompatible with the survival of the koala population.
2. Infill developments in already established urban areas will remove the
trees and block the movement paths that allow the urban koalas to survive.
3. The major developments proposed in South East Thornlands and Kinross
Road will result in habitat destruction and loss of freedom of movement for
koalas.
4. The Integrated Employment Area between Springacre and Taylor Roads
Thornlands will likewise remove habitat and impede the movement of koalas.
5. South Redland Bay development will allow a further 10,000 residents in
an isolated part of the Koala Coast and traffic through Koala Conservation
Area will increase exponentially.
Tell the government why we should save the Koala Coast koalas.
1. Give your personal reasons of what they mean to you, ranging from the
enjoyment they give you when you see them and the importance you place on
your children/grandchildren also being able to see koalas in the future.
2. Koalas are important to the identity of Redlands.
3. Tourism opportunities will be lost forever.
4. Recent research has shown the Koala Coast population to be genetically
distinct and SEQ koalas to be the most genetically diverse in Australia.
Genetic diversity is important for the long term survival of a species,
therefore it is critical to protect the Koala Coast population.
We have very little time to change the way things are done. Express a sense
of urgency.
Fact: If the current rate of decline continues, there will be less than 500
koalas remaining in the Koala Coast by 2010.
Emphasise that more must be done to protect urban koalas such as retention
of mature food trees, fauna overpasses to cut the road toll and the need for
dog laws to minimise dog attacks.
Fact: Loss of habitat is recognised as the key threatening process for koala
survival, with additional threats from vehicle hits, dog attacks and an
increased susceptibility to disease as a consequence of the loss and
fragmentation of koala habitat.
Send letters/emails to the addresses listed below and please encourage
family and friends to do likewise:
Hon. Anna Bligh Premier and Minister for the Arts PO Box 15185, CITY
EAST, QLD, 4002
premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Hon. Kate Jones Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability PO Box 15155, CITY EAST QLD, 4002
Hon. Stirling Hinchcliffe Minister for Infrastructure and Planning PO Box
15009 , CITY EAST, 4002
infrastructure.planning@ministerial.qld.gov.au
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Front page article from May June 2009 Newsletter
A Government report released on May 23rd 2009 showing a rapid decline in the
koala population in SEQ comes as no surprise to the Koala Action Group. The
Department of Environment and Resource Management’s report has confirmed
that the key threat to the koala’s survival is loss of habitat. Vehicle
hits, dog attacks and susceptibility to disease as a consequence of habitat
loss along with fragmentation of habitat are also attributed to the decline
in the koala population in the Report. KAG has been warning the State
Government regarding all of these threats to the koala’s survival for the
past 20 years.
The Report in part states:
“The results of the 2008 Koala Coast koala survey estimates a population of 2279 animals. Based on the population estimate of 4611 koalas in 2005-2006, this represents a 51% decline in less than 3 years and a 64% decline in the 10 years since the original 1996-1999 estimate of 6246 koalas.”
“The decline in the koala population is becoming increasingly rapid, from a
26% decline over 6 years to a 51% decline in 3 years.”
“If the current rate of decline continues, there will be less than 500
koalas remaining in the Koala Coast by 2010.”
“Many key koala habitat areas in the Koala Coast are currently being
developed or are earmarked for future development.”
The figures show the greatest mortality rate (62%) is in the Redlands – a
staggering loss of 1437 koalas lost in 3 years.
The Government report continues: “Unabated clearing of koala habitat for
development in South East Queensland is placing a great deal of pressure on
the survival of the koala.”
If the State Government is serious about stopping this decline, there must
be an immediate end put to the clearing of mature koala habitat trees for 6
months as was recommended last year by the Premier’s Koala Taskforce.
Drastic changes must also be made to the Draft South East Queensland
Regional Plan, starting with areas in the Redlands that have been earmarked
for future development in koala habitat and have those areas removed from
the Plan as a matter of urgency.
These include Kinross and Springacre Roads at Thornlands, South East
Thornlands and Southern Redland Bay.
To view the Report in its entirety click here EPA and click on 2008 Koala Population Koala Coast.
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Front page article from March April 2009 Newsletter
The State Government's pro-development agenda appears to continue unabated
with the release of the Draft South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031.
Many hundreds of hectares of land at Kinross Rd, Thornlands, South East
Thornlands and Southern Redland Bay are earmarked for future development at
a time when the Redlands koala population has plummeted. Premier Anna Bligh
announced last year that these areas earmarked for development would
be fast tracked under the false guise that this would help housing
affordability.
In addition, Redlands waterways again received an 'F' on the Healthy
Waterways report released late last year (see P.2).
KAG members who assisted with EPA koala surveys last year have grave
concerns that koala numbers appear to have declined by up to 50% - much
greater than studies conducted two years ago, which concluded that numbers
had decreased by 27%.
A Koala Taskforce was formed by the State Government late last year, and was
made up of representatives from various state and local Government
departments and environmental groups including KAG. The role of the
Taskforce was to formulate a range of strategies to halt the decline in our
koala populations. A 15 page report of recommendations was presented
to the Premier last September.
The Koala Action Group fear that the formation of the Taskforce was nothing
more than political rhetoric, as to date the State Government has failed to
properly address the recommendations.
Following the State Government elections, KAG will continue to tackle the
party that gains power on this issue. Our group is also calling on Redland
City Council to show leadership and lobby the State Government to halt
further development and save the Redlands and its precious environment from
this continuing destruction.
Members are urged to make a submission to the Draft SEQ Regional Plan and
have your say on the future of Redlands. For further information:
www.dip.qld.gov.au.
Submissions need only be brief - for example: Further urbanisation in the Redlands is the greatest threat to the survival of koalas and will push the koala to extinction. An increase in vehicle hits and dog attacks will result from more urbanisation. Large tracts of land should be protected and/or revegetated as habitat.
Send your submission to: Draft SEQ Regional Plan Feedback, Department of
Infrastructure & Planning, Reply Paid 15009-City East, Brisbane Qld 4002.
The deadline for submissions is April 3rd, 2009.