Council calls for improved protection of koala habitat

Redland City Council is continuing to advocate for improved protection of koala habitat and food trees on Redlands Coast.

Mayor Karen Williams said two reports tabled at today’s General Meeting addressed options to enhance statutory planning protections.

“Council is committed to improving conservation outcomes for koalas by doing all we can to protect areas critical to local populations of this iconic and endangered marsupial,” Cr Williams said.

“However, the Queensland Government has indicated that mapping of koala habitat will remain a state matter.

“Today, Council discussed what we could do to protect individual koala habitat and food trees within an area generally bound by Henry Ziegenfusz Park to the north, Fitzroy Street to the west, South Street to the south and McLeod Street to the east.

“The community has indicated this area is important to our local koalas but it is not included in the South East Queensland Koala Habitat Map.

“Following advice from the Queensland Government, we believe the most appropriate way to provide adequate protection to local koala habitat areas is to ensure they are identified by the state mapping.

“To that end, Council has committed to advocate to the Queensland Government to change its mapping methodology to include habitat that is significant at a local level and not just at a regional level.”

Council also authorised a submission be made to the Department of Environment and Science on the post-implementation review of the Improving South East Queensland’s Koala Habitat Regulations.

“Although the koala mapping and legislative framework is protecting koalas, we support the Queensland Government’s own assessment that there is room for improvement,” Cr Williams said.

“We believe the mapping product doesn’t identify all the areas we think should be protected.

“We are also calling for clarity around the meaning of some of the exemptions and guidance for stakeholders, so the guidelines can be applied consistently.

“We want to keep working with the Queensland Government to ensure these regulations result in the best outcome for Redlands Coast, in particular for our koalas.”