The NSW Government will invest $10 million over five years to acquire vital koala habitat and will embark on a whole-of-government koala strategy to secure NSW koala populations, Environment Minister Mark Speakman has announced.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Professor Mary O’Kane AC’s Report of the Independent Review into the Decline of Koala Populations in Key Areas of NSW, recommended developing an overarching strategy and investing in key areas of koala habitat.
The NSW Government commissioned the independent review in March.
“The independent review proposes 11 recommendations to help develop a strategy that can secure and eventually increase NSW koala numbers,” Mr Speakman said.
“The strategy will also complement the koala conservation work already being done under the NSW Government’s flagship $100 million Saving our Species program. This work will include projects, which improve koala habitat and trialling artificial water sources for koalas to mitigate heat stress.
“The $10 million investment follows the creation in March of flora reserves totalling 120 square km on the South Coast, run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to protect the last known local koala population.”
A three-month consultation program will include regional community information sessions, stakeholder meetings, webinars and information/feedback via a web portal.
“We want communities to look at the independent review and provide input to help direct the NSW Government’s strategy so we can preserve this iconic species for all generations to come,” Mr Speakman said.
To comment on the strategy’s direction visit Developing a NSW Koala Strategy
Response from Bellingen Environment Centre
“The NSW Liberal Minister for the Environment, Mark Speakman, announced another $10m of taxpayers money is to be thrown at “the problem” of our declining koala populations,” Bellingen Environment Centre’s Caroline Joseph said.
“However, he turns a blind eye to the 60 hectare compartments of good koala habitat to be clear felled at Kerewong State Forest and Oaks State Forest.
“We also face the NSW Government's approval of the removal of protections for koalas, a failed federal and state Koala Recovery Plan and changes to land clearing in NSW.
“We know that koalas have declined by 26 per cent since 1990 and are being given 20 years before extinction.
“Stop cutting down habitat and throwing more money down the drain for political expediency. The North Coast Public want to see the Great Koala Park ... a couple of private property purchases each year will not fix this dire problem of profit before saving prime Koala habitat.
“Our koala colonies are not safe and our forests are not in safe hands.”
