2020-01-16 Ordinary Meeting Agenda

ORDINARY MEETING AGENDA                                                                         16 JANUARY 2020


9                        ORDINARY MEETING REPORTS

1                        DRAFT SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND KOALA CONSERVATION STRATEGY 2019-2024
Document i nformati on




Author                              Principal Environment Officer, Peter Milne
                                    Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index                               ECM /Subject /Fauna / Wildlife, Environment Strategy / Biodiversity Plan &
                                    Koala Policy / Management

Attachments                        1.     Draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2019-2024
                                          (44 page attachment provided separately to this Agenda)
                                   2.     Noosa Council Submission on the Draft South East Queensland Koala
                                          Conservation Strategy 2019-2024


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the Ordinary Meeting dated 16
January 2020 and note the release of the Draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy
2019-2024 provided at Attachment 1, which is open for public consultation until 31 January 2020;
and
A.                       Approve Council making a submission to the Queensland Government on the Draft South East
                         Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2019-2024 based on the key issues outlined in
                         Attachment 2 to the report;
B.                       Authorise the CEO to make minor amendments to the submission following the Department of
                         Environment and Science training sessions scheduled for Council’s development assessment
                         officers prior to the submission close; and
C.                       Note that a 2020/21 budget submission will be made to undertake a comprehensive review of
                         local koala habitat mapping, as a requirement of the Queensland Government transitional map
                         validation process.


REPORT
In 2015 the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection commissioned a study
into the conservation status of koalas in seven local government areas in South East Queensland
(SEQ) including Noosa Shire. The study found significant declines in koala populations in some
areas in SEQ. The ‘Koala Coast’ (Wellington Point to Logan River) had an 80% decline in population
densities and Pine River a 54% decline between 1996 and 2014, which may be an indicator of trends
elsewhere. In response, the Queensland Government formed a Koala Expert Panel to review the
findings and make recommendations on conserving koalas in SEQ.
The Koala Expert Panel was made up of experts in ecology, wildlife management, planning and
environment law. The Panel made 6 recommendations:
1.                       A strategic and coordinated approach to koala conservation.
2.                       Ensure koala habitat is protected.
3.                       Strategic and landscape-scale koala habitat restoration.
4.                       Coordinated threat reduction and koala population management.
5.                       Strong community partnerships and engagement.
6.                       Targeted mapping, monitoring, research and reporting.

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