Many koalas in Redland City will miss out on any form of habitat protection if the State Government’s draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy is adopted in its current form.

Decisions critical for the survival of koalas in south east Queensland will be made by the State Government after community consultation over the summer holidays, closing on 31 January 2020.

The deadline for comments about the Government’s detailed mapping of Koala Habitat protection areas is 22 December 2019, just before Christmas.

All of Redland City is designated as a Koala Priority Area in the Government’s Draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy. But the only koala trees to get any protection in Redlands will be those located in areas officially mapped as Koala Habitat.

Many areas where koalas are regularly seen have been overlooked including most of Cleveland, Ormiston and Wellington Point.

Examples of the Government’s proposed mapping of koala habitat in many parts of Redland City are shown below, including a double image comparing areas proposed for protection with unprotected places where koalas actually live.

It appears that Redland City’s koala habitat will get significantly reduced protection if the Government’s draft strategy and mapping are adopted.

In Redlands, and probably elsewhere in south east Queensland, it seems that developers get better protection than koalas.

Help save our koalas

It’s time to tell the State Government to save our koalas

Some points to make in submissions to the State Government include:

The draft koala habitat mapping fails to protect areas where many of our koalas are living right now as evidenced by koala sightings recorded in the Atlas of Living Australia

Areas extensively planted with koala trees by the Redlands community over the past 30 years should be recognised in the Koala Habitat mapping

Land removed from the Government’s mapping of Koala Habitat ahead of the draft strategy being released (including at Shoreline and south west Victoria Point) should be reinstated

Areas of Redlands mapped previously as being of state environmental significance should be included as Koala Habitat, especially if ground-truthing evidence shows koala activity

The proposal to let property owners have automatic rights to clear up to 500 m2 in Koala Habitat areas should be replaced with an impact assessment process

The exemption allowing firebreaks to be developed and maintained in Koala Habitat areas is supported, provided that there are rules to prevent abuse

A moratorium on clearing koala trees in Koala Priority Areas should be implemented (with effective sanctions) until the Strategy and Koala Habitat mapping are finalised

The use of financial offsets as a mechanism for property owners and developers to buy the right to destroy koala habitat is unacceptable

Analysis of overall gain/loss of koala habitat in south east Queensland should recognize that areas close to the coast such as the Redlands can sustain more koalas per hectare than other areas further west where it’s hotter and drier

Public consultation periods for Koala Habitat mapping (to 22 December 2019) and the draft Strategy (to 31 January 2020) are inadequate – both periods should be extended

The Government should undertake extensive community consultation about its strategy and mapping in Redland City, including drop in sessions and speaking at a public meeting

Have your say to State Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch using this submission template

You can edit the submission template to say what you really think. Include details of koala sightings in your local area, or the area which you believe should have proper koala habitat protection. Tell the Minister why you want koalas saved in Redlands.

Copies of submissions will go to:

Planning Minister Cameron Dick

Capalaba MP Don Brown

Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson

Redlands MP Kim Richards

Springwood MP Mick de Brenni

CEO Redland City Council

Comments about the Government’s draft SEQ Koala Conservation strategy can also be made via an on-line survey on the Government’s website.

You may also be able to send feedback and questions to the government using this email address: SEQKoalaStrategy@des.qld.gov.au

Koalas in south east Queensland – the backstory

The alarming decline in south east Queensland koala numbers has been evident to the State Labor Government for more than four years:

Habitat protection mapping ignores where many koalas live

The problem with the State Government’s draft Strategy and Koala Habitat Mapping can be seen by comparing the blue and green areas in the double image.

The top map shows (in blue) where koalas live, based on reports to the Atlas of Living Australia by Koala Action Group members and other members of the community.

The bottom map of the same geographic area shows the State Government’s draft Koala Habitat mapping in green.

Areas mapped blue but not green are places where koalas want to live but won’t be protected by the State Government.

This includes parks and foreshore areas near Toondah Harbour as well as other open space areas in Redland City where koalas are observed often.

Where the koalas actually live (top) compared with the new Koala Habitat (bottom)

The new mapping covers less area in some places

Comparison of the Government’s proposed new Koala Habitat mapping with previous mapping shows that protected areas have been reduced. Here are two examples with the 2010 protection mapping on the left and the new mapping proposed by the State Government on the right.

The south west part of the Shoreline development area in Southern Redlands

South west Victoria Point where a large housing estate is being planned by Redland City Council

Explore the proposed koala habitat protection mapping

To access the State Government’s Koala Habitat mapping on-line, go to this webpage and follow its instructions carefully.

For convenience, Redlands2030 has reproduced some of the Government’s Koala Habitat mapping below.

These maps show areas marked for koala habitat protection in the coastal parts of mainland Redland City from Thorneside to the mouth of the Logan River. Proposed koala habitat protection for the Commonwealth lands in Birkdale is also shown – in the second image.

Thorneside and Wellington Point

Commonwealth lands in Birkdale

Ormiston and Raby bay

Cleveland and Alexandra Hills

Thornlands

Victoria Point

Redland Bay from Golf Course to Weinam Creek

Redland Bay from Weinam Creek to Point Talburpin

Southern Redlands including Shoreline

Carbrook and Redland Bay to mouth of the Logan River

These maps were all copied from the Government’s on-line mapping of proposed Koala Habitat protection areas, on 15 December 2019.

Redlands2030 – 16 December 2019

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