Wollondilly Shire Council has welcomed t…
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Wollondilly Shire Council has welcomed the announcement of $4.5 million in funding for a koala care centre within Wollondilly at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital at the University of Sydney’s School of Veterinary Science, Brownlow Hill, with another $500,000 to support wildlife carers.
The University Wildlife Care Centre currently treats local injured wildlife, including the majority of koalas which come into care in the Macarthur region. Unfortunately, a lack of funding and a shortage of qualified veterinarians has limited its capacity until now.
Wollondilly Council has been strongly advocating for a koala hospital in the Shire for many years, since the idea was first raised in a Mayoral Minute by then Mayor, Cr Matthew Deeth in December 2019.
Mayor Matt Gould said, “I am really pleased to see the NSW Government commit this money towards the upgrading of this crucial facility, to ensure we have a dedicated place to treat sick and injured koalas.”
“This funding will expand the hospital's capacity to support koala rescue, rehabilitation and conservation, as well as additional vet care, upgraded clinical equipment and pre-release enclosures.”
“Our local wildlife carers have told us how badly they need better rehabilitation facilities for injured koalas and an increase in the number of trained and qualified veterinarian staff to address the current shortage. This funding will go a long way to meet these priorities.”
“Although the impact of development on koala habitat still needs to be fully addressed by the government, and wildlife overpasses for busy main roads must remain on the agenda so we can reduce the number of koalas being injured in the first place, the funding for this hospital will make a big difference to our local koala population.”
The South-west Sydney koala population is the largest in the Sydney area, with key threats including habitat loss and fragmentation of koala corridors from development, bushfire impacts, chlamydia spread, road strikes and dog attacks.