2017-08-08 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    08 AUGUST 2017


Action 3.1 Research partnerships
The USC Koala Health mapping project, funded by the Noosa Biosphere® Reserve Foundation,
employs koala ‘poo’ sniffing dogs to locate scats. This information helps to determine the
distribution of koalas across the Shire, providing a focus for Council and community conservation
activities. USC intends to re-apply for further funding to continue this research and further our
understanding of the distribution and abundance of koalas across the shire.
Action 4.1 Develop local koala habitat mapping
Koala records have been sourced from Koala tracker, University of Sunshine Coast, State
Government Wildnet, Council records and Koala hospitals and a local koala habitat map has been
developed. Developments that are assessed against the Noosa Plan Biodiversity Overlay may
require code assessment against the Noosa Plan Schedule 7 Koala Habitat Areas map which is
based on the local koala habitat maps. The maps also help guide Council and the community with
targeted conservation efforts across the shire.
Action 4.2 Innovative research
The University of Sunshine Coast ‘Detection Dogs for Conservation’ has been refining their scat
detection and sampling techniques. In Noosa Shire they have recorded 285 koala scat sites from
both public and private land. 128 fresh samples were tested to determine if koala health can be
measured through DNA analysis. Koala Chlamydia is still considered the greatest threat to koala
populations.
Action 4.3 Development of Council database
On occasion residents report koala sightings and these reports are kept on a Council database.
Residents are also encouraged to record their sightings with citizen science organisations such as
Koala Tracker.
Action 5.3 Koala infrastructure audit for roads
Consultants 02 Ecology have completed an audit of koala infrastructure for State and local roads.
Koala road infrastructure includes fencing, underpasses, climbing walls, refuge logs and signs
including wildlife and speed limit road signage. The consultants have identified the koala road ‘hot
spots’ across the shire and made a number of recommendations including improved maintenance
requirements, upgrades to existing infrastructure and recommendations on new infrastructure.
GPS tracking has demonstrated that koalas regularly cross Eenie Creek Road at Noosa Springs,
also a known ‘car strike’ hot spot. Council officers have inspected the site and have identified that
subject to funding, the koala fencing can be improved to further assist in guiding koalas to
underpasses and thereby reduce the risk of car strike.
Action 6.2 Wild dog control
Council has continued with seasonal wild dog control in target areas across the shire. Wild dogs
will often use core habitat areas as a refuge, preying on neighbouring stock and on occasion they
attack koalas as well.
Action 6.3 Research partnerships to determine the impacts of wild dogs
Wild dogs have been reported in the Noosa Springs area. Endeavour Veterinary Ecology has been
monitoring individual koalas in this area for threats from wild dogs, car strike and disease. Currently
5 koalas have been captured, provided with treatment when required, and released. The koalas
are GPS tracked and although only in early stages monitoring has demonstrated that koalas
regularly move between Noosa Springs and Settlers Cove, traversing backyards, local and arterial
roads, underpasses and corridors of bush.
Action 8.1 Raising community awareness and participation
A number of events and activities are helping to improving community awareness and participation
with Koala conservation efforts:



                                                                                       Page 82 of 84