Council moves to protect koalas

Kyogle Council will investigate the best options to protect and support koala populations in its local government area.

Council resolved at its July meeting to work with community members, government agencies and advocacy groups to find the most effective policy to help protect core koala habitat.

The move comes in response to community concerns about the future of the koala in the Kyogle LGA and follows other councils in the region adopting their own koala plans of management.

Council at its 8 July meeting also resolved to lobby the State Government to increase its funding to protect koala populations, focusing in particular on the degradation of native forests and crown lands caused by invasive weeds and bell minor associated die back.

Kyogle Council Mayor Cr Danielle Mulholland described Council’s multi-pronged strategy to protect koalas as a “proactive” response to a complex issue.

“Koalas are already on the vulnerable species list and early intervention could prevent the species from becoming endangered or critically endangered like 117 other species in NSW,” Cr Mulholland said.

“Council is looking at a number of strategies to address issues affecting koalas and their habitat and will also explore partnerships across a broad range of stakeholders including State and Federal governments.

“We will, of course, engage community members in the development and implementation of these policies and strategies.

“We are also calling on the State Government to increase its investment to mitigate the negative effects of the degradation of our native forests and crown lands which impact on koala habitat.

“More than a third of our LGA is state forests or national parks and those agencies need to take responsibility for their part in this process.”