2020-01-16 OM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 1 - Draft SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy 2019-2024

       4. Threat management

       Objective: Coordinated threat reduction and koala population
       management
       Habitat loss, dog attacks, car strikes and disease
                                                               Koala Expert Panel recommendation:
       are some of the compounding key threatening
                                                               Resource and implement a new coordinated threat
       processes that affect koalas. Climate change also
                                                               reduction and koala population management
       poses a serious threat to koalas in SEQ. Some
                                                               strategy that complements habitat protection and
       climate models forecast significant declines in
                                                               restoration activities, particularly in identified
       koala numbers in the western parts of SEQ, as a
                                                               priority areas.
       direct result of heat stress or bushfire.
       The koala habitat protections and rehabilitation        The recent work on the Eton Range Realignment—a
       activities proposed in this draft Strategy are          koala research project, undertaken by state and
       intended to be complemented by threat mitigation        local government to understand the biology and
       measures, with a focus in KPA. This will ensure         population dynamics of koalas, will enable a robust
       that areas where investment is made in habitat          spatial model to be developed and improved over
       protection and restoration are afforded improved        time. This modelling will indicate threat hotspots
       chances of delivering koala conservation outcomes.      so a targeted and coordinated threat response can
       The aim of this aspect of the program is to develop     be undertaken. Threat reduction programs will be
       targeted strategies for managing threats to koalas      delivered in two streams: management programs
       using the best available information. Priorities for    and awareness campaigns.
       investments will be guided by scientific evidence,
       cost effectiveness and transparency. Priorities for     SEQ Hospital Network and Moggill Koala
       on-ground activities will also be guided by a map of    Rehabilitation Centre
       priority areas for threat management.
                                                               The SEQ Hospital Network provides care for over
       Threat mitigation is essential for ensuring the long-   1000 koalas each year. Disease, in particular
       term viability of koalas in SEQ, particularly given     Chlamydia, is an increasing threat for koalas, and it
       the increased vulnerability of populations due to       is vital to support the work of the koala hospitals in
       habitat loss and fragmentation. The integration of      treating and researching disease. The Queensland
       threat mitigation with other koala programs within      Government provides funding for the RSPCAs
       KPA will help to improve the effectiveness of any       1300 ANIMAL hotline, which provides assistance
       investments.                                            to people that have found distressed animals,
                                                               including koalas.
       The Queensland Government proposes to develop
       strategies for improving the management of              Improvements will be made to the Moggill
       threatening processes using expertise from the          Koala Rehabilitation Centre, a specialist koala
       Department of Environment and Science, the              rehabilitation facility, to allow it to meet best
       Department of Transport and Main Roads, local           practice standards. Over 200 new koalas arrive at
       governments, non-government organisations, and          the Centre each year, and the facility serves the
       Natural Resource Management organisations with          wider koala hospital network.
       knowledge in managing the threats.
       The Queensland Government proposes to use               Koala carers
       spatial modelling, information from hospital            Rehabilitation permit holders provide an important
       admissions, local koala rescue groups and local         supporting role to the hospital network by rescuing
       governments to identify threats to koalas, and          and caring for sick, injured and orphaned koalas.
       priority areas and programs for threat reduction.       The Queensland Government will work with carers
                                                               and the hospital network to standardise record
                                                               keeping and reporting, and share advances in
| Page 24                                                      treatment protocols.