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

       Introduction

       In Queensland, the greatest concentration of koalas is in South
       East Queensland (SEQ), where they now compete for space with
       a rapidly growing human population. Three quarters (74%) of core
       koala habitat has already been cleared in SEQ1 since 1960 and the
       species is now listed as vulnerable.2
       While habitat loss is the most significant problem                   The plight of the Queensland koala
       affecting koalas in SEQ, it needs to be addressed                    Koalas are widely distributed across Queensland,
       in conjunction with other factors such as disease                    with a nationally significant population in SEQ.
       management, traffic, dog attacks and effective
       rescue and rehabilitation programs.                                  The Queensland Government has been monitoring
                                                                            koalas in SEQ for more than 20 years and in this
       The draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation                   time has amassed considerable data on koala
       Strategy 2019–2024 is underpinned by a proposal                      distribution, density and demographic parameters.3
       to direct investment to areas where there is the
       highest likelihood of success for koala conservation.                The South East Queensland Koala Population
       Focusing on a coordinated approach to habitat                        Modelling Study, presented to the Queensland
       protection, restoration and threat mitigation actions,               Government, highlighted an 80% decline in koala
       it strikes the right balance between necessary                       population densities along the ‘Koala Coast’
       development and koala conservation.                                  (Wellington Point to the Logan River) and 54%
                                                                            decline in koala population densities in the Pine
       The draft Strategy proposes new ways we can                          Rivers region between 1996 and 2014.3
       further protect koalas into the future and has been
       developed in consultation with representatives from                  This decline is the result of a number of factors,
       the conservation, building and development sectors,                  with habitat loss being the most significant. During
       Traditional Owners and First Nations peoples, state                  this same period, Greater Brisbane’s population
       and local government, through the Koala Advisory                     increased at a rate faster than any capital city in
       Council (KAC), to outline the actions needed to                      Australia, growing by 40%.
       improve koala conservation.                                          The best habitat for koalas, with rich fertile soil for
       Your feedback on this draft Strategy will inform                     producing eucalyptus trees, are the areas that are
       the development of future policies, legislation and                  also preferred for human settlement, agriculture and
       management actions. The Strategy will also draw                      industry, this illustrates the competition for land in
       upon meetings, workshops and other consultation                      SEQ.
       measures with local government representatives                       Current projections indicate the human population
       and key stakeholders to ensure a collaborative and                   of SEQ will rise by two million people (to a total of
       balanced approach.                                                   5.3 million) by 2041. This creates the need for, on
       The Queensland Government invites comments from                      average, more than 30,000 new dwellings each year.
       all Queenslanders on the proposed actions in this
       draft Strategy. Submissions can be made online at
       the Queensland Government’s Get Involved website
       (www.qld.gov.au/SEQkoalas).


       1   Biodiversity Assessment Team, Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Science.
       2   Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act), and the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity
           Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
       3   Rhodes, J.R., H. Beyer, H. Preece, and C. McAlpine. 2015. South East Queensland Koala Population Modelling Study. Uniquest,
           Brisbane, Australia.


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