Results of Campbelltown Koala Monitoring Program released

A study into Campbelltown’s koala population undertaken across the LGA has revealed the most accurate recent data on the size and location of the area’s koala colony.

The Koala Occupancy and Population Assessment shows that Campbelltown’s koala population has steadily increased in recent years, with an estimate of an almost 50 per cent increase in population size since 2012.

This data will enable Council to better plan and monitor proactive measures that will preserve koalas and address challenges to koala health such as habitat conservation, protection from fire, disease prevention, vehicle strikes and dog attacks.

Mayor George Brticevic said the report would be the catalyst for a longer-term comprehensive plan to further monitor the health and movements of the koala population.

“This study has given us the most comprehensive understanding of our local koalanumbers and location to date,” Cr Brticevic said.

“Campbelltown is fortunate to have a healthy, disease free and growing koala population and this data will be valuable in helping us better understand their movements and take actions that will help mitigate threats to their health,” he said.

“This study was a key action under our Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management and will help to inform a long-term monitoring program involving researches, wildlife carers and the community that will be important in protecting our koalas going forward.”

The program involved more than 12 months collaboration between Council, rural landowners across Campbelltown and Dr Steve Phillips from BioLink Ecological Consultants.