2016-04-19 P&E Committee - Item 4, Attachment 1 - Draft Koala Conservation Management Plan

Section 2

© Noosa Council 2014

www.noosa.qld.gov.au
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2016

Acknowledgements
Council wishes to thank all interested stakeholders who have taken the time and energy to help guide the
development of this plan.

Disclaimer
This document has been developed by Noosa Council’s Planning and Infrastructure Department.

Information contained in this document is based on available information at the time of writing. All figures
and diagrams are indicative only and should be referred to as such. This is a strategic document which
deals with technical matters in a summary way only. Council or its officers accept no responsibility for any
loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting in reliance upon any material contained in
this document.




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Table of Contents



Table of Contents
Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 2
1.          Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3
1.1         Purpose of the Koala Conservation Plan ................................................................. 3
1.2         Objectives of the Koala Conservation Plan .............................................................. 4
1.2.1       Conserve koalas and habitat through statutory provisions ....................................... 4
1.2.2       Conserve koalas and habitat through non-statutory means ..................................... 9
1.2.3       Improved understanding of Koala needs and behaviours ...................................... 13
1.2.4       Improved data collection and mapping of local koala populations .......................... 14
1.2.5       Informed infrastructure decisions ........................................................................... 18
1.2.6       Effective wild and domestic dog control ................................................................. 19
1.2.7       Implement translocation consistent with State policy ............................................. 21
1.2.8       Increased community awareness and participation ............................................... 22
2.          Koala Conservation Action Plan ............................................................................ 23
3.         Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………32




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Section 4

Executive Summary

Noosa Shire is recognised for its outstanding environmental attributes and was declared a
Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program in 2008. Vegetation
networks extend across rural and coastal landscapes on public and private land. Our koalas
live in a diverse environment and visitors are often surprised to encounter koalas in close
proximity to residential areas.

Concerns have been expressed about the plight of koalas which are now listed as being
‘vulnerable’ in Queensland. In 2015 Noosa Council adopted a Koala Conservation Policy
with the aim of developing a framework for the conservation and protection of this iconic
species.

One of the important outcomes of the Policy was to develop a shire-wide Koala
Conservation Plan to deliver tangible on-ground actions. The Plan provides the mechanism
to implement the Koala Policy with the aim of conserving our local koala populations in
perpetuity. The Plan has been developed through extensive consultation with key
stakeholders such as koala interest groups, research organisations, government agencies,
and environmental and natural resource management groups. A public consultation process
allowed residents and visitors to have input into the Plan.

The Koala Conservation Plan identifies a number of specific management objectives to help
support koala conservation. These objectives cover statutory and non-statutory protection
measures, improved data and mapping resourcing, guidance on minimising the impacts of
infrastructure projects, management of domestic and wild dogs, koala health research
initiatives and community engagement programs. A specific Action Plan describes the
implementation measures to be employed over the next five years.

Conserving Noosa Shire’s koala population is a challenging but essential goal. The Noosa
Shire Koala Conservation Plan 2016 provides a framework to help achieve this objective.




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1.        Introduction
Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are of great interest to Noosa residents and visitors. They
are listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the Australian and Queensland Governments and there is
concern that the species may be in decline. The Koala Conservation Plan guides Council
and the community with efforts to help conserve and protect this iconic species. In addition,
helping to conserve koalas will provide mutual benefit to other native fauna and ecological
communities in Noosa Shire.

Koalas, like many other native species, have suffered decline since European settlement.
Seabrook et al. (Seabrook et al, 2003, Landscape legacies: Koala habitat change in Noosa
Shire) describes Noosa generally having a low density of koalas, this being a legacy of
clearing native forests by early European settlers. They go onto to say koala populations in
Noosa Shire have suffered a decline similar to other areas of eastern Australia such as Port
Stephens, Iluka, Coffs Harbour and Logan.

However, koalas have still been found to occur in various parts of Noosa Shire, from the
hinterland to the coast. It is unknown exactly how many koalas there are, but records
indicate koalas are known to occur mostly in southern and western parts of the Shire within
the localities of Noosa, Eastern Beaches, Tewantin, Cooroibah, Doonan, Cooroy,
Ridgewood, Federal and Cooran.

The Koala Conservation Plan guides Council and community in their efforts to help conserve
Noosa’s remaining koala populations and habitat.


1.1       Purpose of the Koala Conservation Plan
In 2015, Council adopted a Noosa Shire Koala Conservation Policy. The purpose of the
policy is to provide a coordinated and structured framework to help conserve and protect
koala populations and habitat within the Noosa Shire.

The purpose of this Koala Conservation Plan 2016 is to implement the policy by addressing
the following key areas:

      Conservation of koalas and habitat through statutory provisions
      Conservation of koalas and habitat through non-statutory means
      Understanding koala needs and behaviours
      Data collection and mapping of local koala populations
      Informed decision making when developing infrastructure
      Implementation of wild dog and domestic dog control actions
      Translocation of koalas
      Community awareness and participation




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1.2       Objectives of the Koala Conservation Plan

The Noosa Koala Conservation Plan identifies eight objectives for each of the key policy
areas:


1.2.1     Conserve koalas and habitat through statutory provisions

Noosa’s koalas are listed as ‘vulnerable’ at both National and State levels. Figure 1
below summarises the various legislation, policy, guidelines and plans that are aimed
at conserving koalas.




             Figure 1. Government legislation, policy, guidelines and plans


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National

The koala is listed as a ‘Vulnerable’ species under the Commonwealth Environment
Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Development that has a
significant impact on koalas requires referral to the Australian Government Minister for
the Environment. Under the EPBC Koala Referral Guidelines impacts on ‘habitat
critical to the survival of the species’ and impacts that ‘substantially interfere with the
recovery of the species’ are a ‘significant impact’. For example the loss of twenty (20)
hectares or more of high quality connected habitat critical to the survival of koalas is
likely to be a significant impact. Under the guidelines a development in an urban area
is unlikely to require referral as the area is already being fragmented, there are
substantial risks to koalas, and it is unlikely that populations and habitat will recover
over time.

A development that avoids or mitigates a significant impact also does not require
referral. The EPBC Koala Referral Guidelines provide guidance on how to mitigate
significant impacts covering:
      Dog control
      Vehicle strike
      Koala infection control
      Koala friendly infrastructure
      Maintaining ground water hydrology to support habitat

Under the EPBC Act Environment Offset Policy, any residual impact of an assessable
development will require an offset obligation.

In most cases the EPBC Act does not stop development, but provides measures to
avoid, mitigate, or offset the significant impacts of development on koalas.

State

Most regulatory control that affects koalas occurs at a State Government level. Under
the Nature Conservation Act 1992 koalas are listed as ‘Vulnerable’. Under the
Queensland Vegetation Management Act (VMA) 1999 clearing of vegetation is
generally avoided if an area is mapped as Essential Habitat. These are areas of
potential habitat for Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened species, including
koalas. Development applications in mapped Essential Habitat are assessed by the
State.

The SEQ Regional Plan states the principle of koala conservation as ‘populations in
the region are enhanced through the protection, management and the achievement of
a net gain in bushland koala habitat and through managing conflict with urban
development’. The key planning instruments to achieve this are the State Planning
Policy (SPP) 2014 and the South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning
Regulatory Provisions (SPRP). The SPP is to be reflected in local planning
instruments and aims to provide a net gain in koala habitat. The SPRP identifies
assessable development areas which are areas of highest risk to koalas in SEQ.
Development assessment in these areas is devolved to Council from the State (see
Map 1).




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         Map 1. Extent of the State SPRP Koala Habitat Areas in Noosa Shire

The SPRP provide measures to avoid/mitigate the impacts of development in SPRP
mapped koala habitat areas and has similar provisions to the Commonwealth referral
guidelines:
     avoiding, minimising or offsetting the clearing of non-juvenile koala habitat
        trees
     site design that provides safe koala movement opportunities appropriate to the
        development type and habitat connectivity values of the site
     construction phases that do not increase the risk of death or injury to koalas
     clearing of native vegetation, undertaken as sequential clearing
     clearing of koala habitat trees, undertaken in the presence of a koala spotter.

The SPRP calls up the ‘Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and
Management Program 2006-2016’ and ‘Koala-sensitive Design Guideline: A guide to
koala-sensitive design measures for planning and development activities’ to inform
decision makers on development conditions.

The Queensland Environment Offsets Policy 2014 has provisions for offsetting the
residual impacts of unavoidable development on koala habitat. Again, this only applies
to the mapped SPRP Koala Habitat Areas. Most koala habitat in Noosa occurs outside
this mapped area. Koala offset plantings have been delivered in Girraween Nature
Refuge, under the former Offsets for Net Gain in Koala Habitat in South East
Queensland Policy (2010), which is now integrated into the Queensland Environment
Offsets Policy 2014.

The State Government Supported Community Infrastructure Koala Conservation
Policy (2014) outlines how state public sector entities will consider koala conservation

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outcomes in the planning and delivery of government supported community
infrastructure such as roads and buildings.

Similar to National legislation, in most cases State planning provisions do not stop
development, but provide measures to avoid/mitigate/offset impacts to koalas.

Local

The State Planning Policy (SPP) 2014 states that local government planning schemes
are to appropriately integrate State and National interests including biodiversity
matters. The SPP states that the planning scheme needs to facilitate a net gain in
koala habitat.

At a local government level vegetation protection across the Noosa Shire is currently
achieved through the Noosa Plan Biodiversity Overlay Code which protects significant
vegetation. Development within these mapped areas requires assessment by Council
and under the Noosa Plan certain activities such as clearing for access and fencing
purposes are exempt. Landholders or contractors can be prosecuted for illegal clearing
within the mapped Biodiversity Overlay area and may be required to re-instate
vegetation. Outside of the mapped Biodiversity Overlay, protection provisions for all
trees are proposed in the current round of Noosa Plan planning scheme amendments.

In terms of Council infrastructure development projects such as roads, there are two
Council non-statutory adopted policies that apply to koalas and their habitat:

Noosa Koala Conservation Policy
This policy states that impacts on koalas and koala habitat from Council planned
capital and operational works are to be assessed through the following process:
   i)     In the first instance, investigate measures to avoid any impacts on koalas
           and koala habitat from planned works;
   ii)    Mitigate unavoidable impacts from works;
   iii)   Offset unavoidable impacts as close as possible to the impact site

Tree Management on Public Land Policy
This policy applies to all Council public land including parks, road reserves and other
council-owned land including community facilities. The policy states:
   i)     Trees are valuable assets and must be managed accordingly
   ii)    Council maintains a general commitment to the sustainable management of
           trees on public land and also the greening of open space
   iii)   Unavoidable removal of trees from public land may be offset with planting to
           ensure there is no net loss of trees on Council controlled land

In terms of Council’s infrastructure planning and design, it is the intent of this Koala
Conservation Plan that developments within Koala Habitat Areas (Map 3) are
consistent with these policy provisions.

Summary of Koala legislation and policy

In summary, there are several layers of koala legislation and policy with the aim of protecting
koalas. However, National, State and Local Government legislation and policy does not
preclude development if a landholder has a right to develop their land. Under the

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Sustainable Planning Act 2009, removal of development rights can lead to a claim of
injurious affection and compensation. Therefore, if development cannot be avoided, impacts
are to be mitigated and residual impacts are offset. Based on historic evidence, koala
populations in high risk areas (i.e. urban development areas), are unfortunately likely to
decline over time. In 2010 the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource
Management (DERM) published the Koala Coast-Koala Population Report covering
Redlands, Logan and Brisbane City, all areas of significant urban expansion. Their research
revealed that there has been significant decline (68%) in the koala population since 1996.

Where legal mechanisms allow, Noosa Council will continue to apply development control,
with the aim of avoiding and mitigating impacts on koalas.




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1.2.2     Conserving koalas and habitat through non-statutory means

There are a number of opportunities to further protect and enhance koala populations
and habitat through non-statutory measures. The focus of koala conservation activities
will be:

       In areas identified as core habitat or within essential corridors between core
        habitat areas, as shown in Map 3, page16.
       Prioritised in areas identified as low to medium risk (see Map 4, page 17),
        where there is a greater chance of maintaining a viable population of koalas in
        the long term.

The following programs may be used to support koala conservation measures:

Land for Wildlife (LFW) programs and Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA)

Landholders with suitable properties can apply to become part of the SEQ Catchments
Land for Wildlife (LFW) program. Currently there are 300 LFW landholders within
Noosa Shire and it is Council’s most popular voluntary private land conservation
initiative. There is opportunity to provide incentives to LFW landholders to re-instate
koala habitat on their land. Once the Noosa Plan Biodiversity Code-Vegetation
Protection provisions are approved in the current round of planning scheme
amendments by the State, publicly funded vegetation works can be afforded long term
protection on private land.

The Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) program is a voluntary program where
private landholders can elect to have a portion of their land protected under covenant
that remains on title. Council provides a financial incentive to the landholder to fund
environmental works and/or a rate contribution. Many of the VCA property owners
have started from the LFW program. An agreed property management plan is
developed with the landholder and this guides environmental works on the land.

Through the LFW and VCA programs there is opportunity to expand conservation
efforts on private land and reinstate koala habitat and linkages through revegetation
projects.




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  Case study: Federal Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) Cluster

  In the western part of Noosa Shire, at the locality of Federal, three VCA landholders
  have been active with efforts to conserve local koalas. The landholders have been
  monitoring and recording koalas in the area and recently participated in a survey with
  USC researchers and Maya, the koala detection dog. Most evidence occurs in Spotted
  Gum (Corymbia maculata) country along ridgelines. This data has contributed to
  expanding the known range of koalas in the western part of the Shire and has been
  included in the Noosa Shire Koala Habitat map.




                      Controlling weeds in koala habitat on VCA land

                                    Photo: Joel Morris




Noosa and District Landcare Group (NDLG)

Noosa and District Landcare Group (NDLG) have been involved in habitat restoration
projects on both private and public land, for many years. In 2013, NDLG were
successful in gaining $30,000 in grant funding for the ‘Noosa Hinterland Koala Habitat
Restoration and Awareness Project’ through the Everyone’s Environment Grant
Program. The project involved extensive consultation with private landholders and key
stakeholders such as Council, Koala Care Groups, Environment Groups, Natural
Resource Management Groups and research agencies. The project was promoted
through the media, environmental networks and koala brochures were distributed to
landholders inviting them to be part of the initiative. Seven properties were selected
and two-thousand koala trees were planted. Workshops, school visits and community
events were held to promote the importance of koala conservation.




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Noosa Bushland Care Volunteer program

Noosa Shire has eighteen (18) Bushland Care Groups with approximately three
hundred (300) members. Some bushland groups specifically work in areas that make a
significant contribution to protecting and enhancing koala habitat.



 Case study: Heritage Park Bushland Reserve

 Heritage Park Bushland Reserve is a riparian corridor of remnant vegetation in
 Noosa Parklands, Tewantin. It provides an important linkage with surrounding
 National Park and is habitat for a number of threatened species including koalas,
 frogs and the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly. Attractive pathways meander through
 the park providing visitors with recreational and nature based experiences.

 The Heritage Park Bushland Care Group has been actively involved in protecting
 and enhancing the bushland reserve since 2003. The focus of the group has been
 to restore the natural habitat of the site through weed control and revegetation.
 Educational signage provides park visitors with information on the parks
 outstanding natural values.




Environment Levy land acquisition program

Council’s Environment Levy program provides funding to purchase environmentally
significant land. Since 1996, 19 properties covering approximately 1700 ha have been
purchased through the levy. Most of these properties are mapped as koala habitat.

Between 2004 and 2015, Noosa Council purchased three of parcels of land along the
Noosa River through the Levy. Some of these purchases were co-funded with the
Australian Government National Reserve System Funding (NRS) and from State

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funding. Securing these parcels of land helps to protect the riparian and wildlife
corridor along the western side of the Noosa River and consolidates koala habitat in
the adjoining Cooloola National Park. The parcels are mapped as koala habitat and
koala ‘scats’ or droppings have been found on some of the sites. Neighbouring
residents report hearing koalas calling during the spring mating season.




               Map 2. Noosa River Environment Levy land acquisitions

Council is currently developing a Conservation Land Plan to identify environmentally
significant parcels of land for potential purchase or suitability for the Voluntary
Conservation Agreement (VCA) program in the future. Some of the identified parcels
will be suitable for offset receiving sites for koala feed trees.


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1.2.3      Improve understanding of koala needs and behaviours

Koalas are solitary animals and very territorial. They often act aggressively towards
other individuals. Males are more aggressive. The home range of an individual koala
will depend on the habitat including available food trees. Within a socially stable group,
home ranges overlap at the edges, and that is where any social interaction takes
place. Koalas are very fussy eaters. They consume foliage of certain eucalypts,
although some non-eucalypts may contribute to the diet. Females produce just one
young per year.

It is not known how many Koalas there are in the Noosa Shire area. Locally, koalas
have been sighted at Peregian, Weyba, Sunshine Beach, Noosa National Park,
Tewantin, Tewantin National Park, Tinbeerwah, Cooroibah, Cootharaba, Doonan,
Lake Macdonald, Ringtail Creek, Yurol Forest, Pomona, Cooran, Kin Kin, Woondum
National Park and elsewhere. Recently there have been verified reports of a koala on
Noosa North Shore. Climate change is anticipated to alter the distribution of koalas
over time and drought can also threaten survival.

The current population of koalas in the Noosa Heads National Park Headland section
on the northern side of the Park are probably related to the two males and three
females purposely released there in 1966. These 5 koalas were translocated from
forestry sites near Beerburrum.

As the Queensland Nature (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 notes, small fragmented
populations may result in inbreeding and thus a reduction in genetic variation. This in
turn can reduce the health potential and long-term viability of fragmented populations.
Koalas are subject to a range of diseases. Most significant and commonplace is KoRV
(koala retro-virus) and Chlamydiosis, which causes urinary tract infection, infertility and
sometimes death.

In 2015, Council engaged the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), Detection Dogs
for Conservation, to conduct koala presence/absence surveys on Council reserve and
on Land for Wildlife (LFW) properties. The survey helped to build on current
knowledge of the distribution of koalas sourced from Wildnet, Moggill Koala Hospital,
Council records and Koala Tracker. However, determining the presence/absence of
koalas does not provide information on the long term sustainability of koala
populations in different localities. Historic records indicate that infection (Clamydia and
KoRV) are the greatest cause of sickness and mortality in Noosa Shire. However,
these records have been gathered in areas frequented by people, and do not
necessarily reflect the health of koalas in the bush. Understanding the distribution and
extent of these diseases in koala populations would allow Council and the community
to focus management actions where efforts will be most effective.



        Recent modelling shows that targeting chlamydial disease, among the many
        variables adversely affecting koala survival, would have the greatest positive
        impact. Professor Peter Timms, Queensland University of Technology, Koala
                                        Summit 2012.

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The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) is currently undertaking research into the
long-term sustainability of koalas through its post-graduate research program. The
research is focusing on the long-term sustainability of koala populations using non-
invasive techniques of scat analysis. USC has also applied to Noosa Biosphere®
Foundation and Commonwealth ARC funding body to progress this work.




                  Photo 1. Maya, the USC Koala ‘poo’ detection dog



1.2.4     Data collection and mapping of local koala populations

Data collection

Koala data informs koala habitat maps which are used for a number of purposes
including development assessment, infrastructure planning and identifying areas for
investment in koala habitat restoration projects. Records of koalas are collected by
incidental means (e.g. citizen science, wildlife rescue, reports to Council) or through
planned projects (e.g. koala surveys by consultants, research projects). Currently
different organisations have their own systems and processes for recording koala
sightings:

       Qld Department of Environment & Heritage Protection (EHP): The WildNet
        database informs the SPP Wildlife Habitat Map which is used for State
        Government development assessment purposes. Data must have a certain
        level of confidence attributed to the record to be accepted in the database
       Faunawatch: This association collects fauna data from volunteers and also
        data collected from Faunawatch consulting services
       Koala Tracker: A private ‘citizen science’ web-based facility
       Koala Diaries records


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      Hospital and Wildlife Rescue organisations: Moggill Koala Hospital, Australia
       Zoo, Koala Rescue and Wildlife Rescue keep their own records of ‘in-patients’
      Noosa Council: Records are kept from public consultation processes,
       consultant reports on development applications and engagement of koala
       survey services such as the USC Koala Detection Dogs for Conservation

There are also some local residents who are ‘champions’ in monitoring local koalas
and who record their sightings and photos on Facebook.

Whilst each organisation will continue to keep their own records, from Council’s
perspective, WildNet is considered the official database for record keeping as it
informs the State Essential Habitat Mapping.

Koala Tracker is a ‘citizen science’ web based facility and is a very useful database.
Some verifiable data from this resource has been used to inform the Noosa koala
habitat maps.

Koala Habitat Mapping

To help guide Council and community koala conservation actions it is important to
accurately identify koala habitat areas. There are currently several mapping resources
available to Council. Statutory maps are used for development assessment purposes.
Local mapping can provide more detail to State mapping and can be used as extrinsic
material to inform development assessment decisions.

Statutory koala habitat maps include the Queensland State Planning Policy (SPP)
Wildlife Habitat Mapping, State Planning Regulatory Planning Provisions (SPRP)
mapping (see map 1, page 6) and Essential Habitat mapping for threatened species
(including koalas)

Non-statutory koala habitat maps include the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF)
Noosa Koala Habitat Atlas and the South-east Queensland Catchments (SEQC)
Noosa Koala Habitat and Threat Mapping Project. These are discussed below.

In October 2000 the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) provided Council with the
Noosa Koala Habitat Atlas. Suitable feed and shelter trees were identified that had
koala ‘scats’ underneath. Vegetation types were attributed to the location data and
shire-wide maps developed. The maps identify primary, secondary and tertiary
habitats based on the likely density of koalas utilising that particular habitat type.

In 2016, Noosa Council engaged SEQ Catchments to develop local koala maps for
Noosa Shire. Similar to the AKF Koala Habitat Atlas, the SEQC Noosa Koala Habitat
Mapping Project has taken an evidence based approach to identifying habitat. This
means that land can only be mapped as koala habitat if there has been evidence of
koalas using that particular vegetation in Noosa Shire. Map 3 shows the SEQC koala
habitat mapping. The SEQC koala habitat mapping is a verifiable mapping resource
because it is based on local evidence and also includes regrowth, which koalas often


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utilise. Fifty per cent of koala records have been found to be outside remnant
vegetation in regrowth and other areas.

Koala are recorded in National Park, State Forest, Council controlled land such as
Bushland Reserve and on private land. There are some important vegetation linkages
that cross jurisdictional boundaries and Noosa Council will work with Sunshine Coast
Council and Gympie Shire Council to help protect this habitat.




                      Map 3. Noosa Shire Koala Habitat Map.

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Koala Threat Mapping is based upon identifying areas of development pressure which
aggravates car strike, dog attack or the increased incidence of bushfire. There is no
scientific evidence to suggest that development aggravates disease within koala
populations as some populations in relatively undisturbed areas also have Clamydia
(pers. comm. with Dr Jon Hanger).

Map 4 shows the concentration of development towards the coast as being a higher
risk when compared with rural areas. Based on the Koala Threat Mapping, the Koala
Conservation Plan places a priority on protecting populations in low to medium risk
areas where koalas have the best chance of survival in the long term. The localities of
Lake Weyba, Noosa Hill/Noosa Heads, Mt Tinbeerwah, Ridgewood, Woondum,
Ringtail Creek and Como are identified as priority areas for koala conservation actions.




                               Map 4. Koala Threat Map


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1.2.5     Informed infrastructure decisions

National and State legislation, The Noosa Plan, and Council policy, guide Council
infrastructure decisions.

Best practice design and construction is to be applied to existing or planned
infrastructure that impacts on koalas in mapped Koala Habitat Areas. Measures to
mitigate may include hard infrastructure (exclusion and guiding fences, bridges,
underpasses and culverts, koala ladders) or soft measures (speed limit reductions,
signs, road markings, improved street lighting).

Hard infrastructure

In 2008, the Australian Government conducted a study titled ‘Review of mitigation
measures used to deal with the issues of habitat fragmentation’. The researchers
concluded that there was strong evidence that mitigation structures such as wildlife
crossings were effective for individual fauna (koalas utilising bridge underpasses and
culverts), but the long term impact of the habitat fragmentation (e.g. construction of
linear road through habitat) on fauna populations is unclear.

In discussion with wildlife rescue organisations and based on koala threat mapping the
following Noosa Shire roads are identified as being highest risk:

       Eumundi Road (Noosaville to Doonan)
       Noosa-Cooroy Road (Tewantin to Tinbeerwah)
       McKinnon Drive (Tewantin to Noosa Banks)
       Bruce Highway (Black Mountain)
       Yurol Forest Drive, Pomona
       Noosa Drive, Weyba Creek
       Jampot Creek Road, Pomona

Those roads that traverse known koala habitat areas (Map 3) are to be prioritised for
auditing of koala infrastructure. The process of identifying koala infrastructure needs
for these roads is as follows:

       Undertake an audit of existing wildlife structures in Known Koala Habitat Areas,
        including their location and condition
       Identify areas where there are ‘gaps’ in koala infrastructure
       Develop a feasibility report including cost to deliver and maintain koala
        infrastructure at priority sites during infrastructure upgrades

As there are no new major roads planned for Noosa Shire new koala structures are
proposed to be included at priority sites within koala habitat areas during infrastructure
renewal stages or when project funding is available.

Consultation with the Department of Transport and Main Roads will be required on
koala infrastructure needs identified on State Roads.

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The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads provide Fauna Sensitive
Road Design technical manuals for road infrastructure.




Soft infrastructure

Car strike is one of leading causes of death and injury for koalas in Noosa Shire in
developed areas (see Chart 1 next page). Between 1995-1999, the Queensland
National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Queensland Department of Main Roads and
Redland City Council undertook a trial of speed limit reductions from 80km/hr to
60km/hr between 7pm and 5am, in August and December when koalas are most
active. 1407 koalas were hit by cars during the trial period and most died. Results
indicated that there was no significant reduction in speed by motorists, and no
evidence that low speed zones cause a reduction in koalas being hit by cars. QPWS
suggested that speed limits would have to be reduced below 60 km to have any affect.
To implement a Noosa shire wide road speed reduction from 80-100km/hr to say
40km/hr, similar to school zones, would require significant community support and
substantial police regulation. Efforts would be better directed to improved koala
infrastructure to facilitate safe road crossings or exclusion fencing at key sites.

Similarly the effectiveness of koala signs or markings along roads needs to be
reviewed as motorists often do not notice signs/markings and improved lighting will
only assist in ‘go slow zones’.


1.2.6     Wild and domestic dog control

Domestic and wild dogs can significantly impact on koala populations. Records
indicate that the greatest cause of injury and mortality to koalas in Noosa Shire is from
disease and car strike (see Chart 1). However, the majority of records come from
areas that are actively used by humans (roads and residential areas). Within the
Noosa records there are a small number of records of mortality from dog attack, but
these are likely to be domestic dog.


        19

Section 22

                  Chart 1. Data on Koala in-patients at Australia Zoo

Domestic dogs

Domestic dogs are regulated under Noosa’s Animal Management Local Law No. 2. In
public spaces dogs must remain under control by the owner at all times and on private
land, must be confined to property boundaries. Local Law No. 2 also regulates the
restraint of dogs in Koala Habitat Areas. On occasion koalas wander onto private
property, or dog owners fail to keep control of their dogs in public spaces, and koalas
are attacked.

In other regions Council have declared through local laws, dog and cat free estates as
a measure to protect wildlife. Given the low proportion of attacks on koalas by
domestic dogs in Noosa Shire it is recommended that resources be directed other
areas such as wild dog control, disease research and fauna sensitive road design.
However, public education on dog control is still important. Noosa Council has a
‘Responsible Dog Ownership’ program and education on dog control and minimising
attacks on native animals is to be part of this program.

Wild dogs

In one study of the Moreton Bay Rail Project at Amcor, one rogue dog was responsible
for 58 cases of koala mortality in one month alone. However this was an unusual case
and there is no evidence to suggest that this is happening in Noosa Shire. Given the
potential of wild dogs to significantly impact on koala populations, it is recommended
that Council’s current wild dog control strategy continues and efforts be directed in and
around the mapped priority Koala Habitat Areas.


       20

Section 23

1.2.7     Review translocation as a measure to increase local koala
                               numbers

The Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program
2006-2016 sets strict policy in respect to koala translocation. State approvals are
required and proponents need to demonstrate that the re-introduction/re-stocking of
koalas in an area will actually benefit local koala populations. Any release requires a
long-term monitoring program to assess the success of the translocation. The risk of
koala translocation is as follows:

       Potential disease transmission to local populations
       Impacts on the social structure and range of existing koalas
       Potentially outcompeting local koalas for food
       Alteration of local gene pool
       Introducing koalas that are not accustomed to local tree species
       Releasing koalas in area where koalas have not been able to survive
        previously

The advantages of translocation include:

       Koalas can be relocated from high risk, to low risk areas
       Koalas are an iconic species and are of great interest to tourists
       Introduced koalas may help diversify the gene pool
       Koalas may have been hunted into local extinction previously. Re-introducing
        koalas may be a viable option.

Council may be supportive of koala translocation but only if proponents have State
permits and comply with the State Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan
2006 and Management Program 2006-2016. The koalas would need to be from the
local vicinity (i.e. less than 20 kms from release site), healthy, and at risk from
unavoidable development.




        21

Section 24

 1.2.8     Increased community awareness and participation

 Residents and visitors have a great interest in our local koalas. Involving residents,
 visitors and community groups in koala conservation has a number of benefits:

        Encouraging landholders to plant koala food trees;
        Participating in the collection of data for research purposes;
        Raising awareness of threats from dogs, cars, fencing and pool drowning;
        Improved reporting measures for sick/injured/orphaned koalas;
        Capacity building for koala habitat restoration projects with key stakeholders.

 Council will continue to support koala conservation through attendance at public
 events and provision of education materials.

 There are a number of active organisations involved with the conservation of koalas.
 Advocacy groups include the Australian Koala Foundation, Queensland Koala
 Crusaders, Koala Tracker, and Koala Diaries. In addition there are several wildlife care
 groups involved with saving koalas such as Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast Koala
 Rescue, Wilvos, Wildlife Rescue and Wild Care. Research organisations include the
 University of Sunshine Coast Detection Dogs for Conservation and University of
 Queensland Koala Research Network. Environment groups, natural resource
 management groups and government agencies are also key stakeholders in koala
 conservation.

 The identified stakeholder groups in Appendix 3 have been consulted on the Koala
 Conservation Plan. Council will continue to work with these organisations through-out
 implementation phases of the Plan.



Case Study: Cooroy Lower Mill Site Project

In 2005, Noosa Council and the Noosa and District Landcare Group (NDLG) joined
forces to rehabilitate Cooroy Creek. The first stage was to remove environmental weeds,
particularly Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) which was dominating the creek
and shading out native vegetation. Following this, native plant species including koala
food trees, were planted to bring the creek back to a natural condition. The success of
this project led to further funding and restoration of Cooroy Creek. Funding contributors
included Council, NDLG, Burnett Mary Regional Group, Mary River Catchment
Coordinating Committee and SEQ Water. The Cooroy Lower Mill Site Project has reaped
multiple benefits including improved water quality, greater public amenity, and even
recent recorded sightings of koalas.




         22

Section 25

2.       Koala Conservation Action Plan
Reference   Action                  Success Indicator       Responsibility       Time frame     Resources          Status

Objective 1. Conserve koala populations and habitat through statutory provisions

1.1         Amend the Noosa         Provisions are          Strategic planning   Mid-2016       Officer time       Individual tree
            Plan to include         included which                                                                 protection
            Shire-wide individual   avoid/mitigate/offset                                                          provisions have
            tree protection         impacts on koala                                                               been included in
            provisions outside      trees outside the                                                              the current round
            the mapped              mapped Biodiversity                                                            of proposed
            Biodiversity Overlay    Overlay                                                                        planning scheme
                                                                                                                   amendments

1.2         Identify Koala          Data is submitted for   Environment          August 2016    Officer time       Koala Habitat
            Habitat Areas based     State review            Services and                                           Mapping to be
            on local data and                               Strategic Planning                                     completed March
            approach State for                                                                                     2016.
            consideration in SPP
            mapping

1.3         Investigate harsher     Harsher penalties are   Environment          October 2016   Officer time       Not started
            penalties for illegal   applied                 Services
            tree clearing
                                                            Development
                                                            Services

1.4         Deliver environment     Offsets are delivered   Environment Levy     Subject to     Officer time and   Settlers Cove


      23

Section 26

Reference   Action                   Success Indicator       Responsibility     Time frame          Resources           Status

            offsets as required      on demand               Working Group      developments that   offset funds        Koala Offsets
                                                                                trigger offset                          delivered at
                                                                                provisions                              Girraween Nature
                                                                                                                        Refuge in 2015.

                                                                                                                        TMR Cooroy to
                                                                                                                        Curra offsets
                                                                                                                        pending

Objective 2. Conserve koala populations and habitat through non-statutory means

2.1         Develop a Noosa          CLP is developed        Environment        December 2016       Officer time        Await the
            Shire Conservation                               Services                                                   development of
            Land Plan (CLP) to                                                                                          the Noosa Shire
            identify priority land                                                                                      Biodiversity Plan
            for potential                                                                                               2016
            acquisition and
            offset receiving sites
            for koala trees

2.2         Secure koala habitat     Purchase of EL land     Environment Levy   Ongoing             Officer time        100 ha purchased
            through land             with koala habitat      Working Group                                              in 2015 on Noosa
            acquisition and          once every two years                                           Environment Levy    River and is
            rehabilitation                                                                          Environment Levy    mapped as
                                                                                                                        ‘possible’ koala
                                                                                                    generates $1.8m
                                                                                                    per annum           habitat

2.3         Contract koala tree      Contract koala tree     Environment        2017-2022           Officer time        Subject to 17/18
            planting project         planting is delivered   Services                                                   new initiative
            targeting private                                                                       Budget of $20,000

      24

Section 27

Reference   Action                  Success Indicator         Responsibility      Time frame   Resources           Status

            landholders located     on key properties                                          per annum, each     budget approval
            next to, or within,                                                                year for 5 years
            Koala Habitat Areas.                                                               for tree planting
                                                                                               contract with key
                                                                                               landholders

2.4         Continue to support     One major koala grant     Environment         Ongoing      Officer time        Ongoing
            environment and         to be delivered every     Services
            natural resource        3 years                                                    State or National
            management groups                                                                  grants
            with applications for
            grant funding to
            restore koala habitat
            on public land

2.5         Focus Bushland          One major koala tree      Parks and Natural   2016-2021    Officer time        Ongoing
            Care tree planting      planting (e.g. National   Areas
            projects towards        Tree Day) project is
            koala habitat areas     completed each year

Objective 3. Improve understanding of koala needs and behaviour

3.1         Develop research        Partnership is            Environment         2016-2021    Officer time        Council provides
            partnerships with       formalised                Services                                             in-kind support to
            other Councils, State                                                              Australian          USC post-
            Government Koala                                                                   Government ARC      graduate koala
            interest groups and                                                                funding             health research
            research                                                                           Noosa               program
            organisations to                                                                   Biosphere®
            determine the health                                                                                   USC has applied

      25

Section 28

Reference   Action                  Success Indicator       Responsibility   Time frame   Resources          Status

            and sustainability of                                                         funding            to the Noosa
            koala populations                                                                                Biosphere® for
                                                                                                             grant funding

                                                                                                             USC is applying
                                                                                                             for an ARC
                                                                                                             Research Project
                                                                                                             to fund a
                                                                                                             comprehensive
                                                                                                             study across SEQ
                                                                                                             and Wide Bay
                                                                                                             Regions

Objective 4. Map and monitor local koala populations

4.1         Develop local koala     Koala habitat maps to   Environment      March 2016   $8500 for USC      Maps finalised
            habitat and threat      be completed            Services                      koala survey and   March 2016
            mapping                                                                       $8600 for SEQC
                                                                                          koala
                                                                                          habitat/threat
                                                                                          mapping

4.2         Investigate latest      Discussions are held    Environment      2016         Officer time       Ongoing
            methods for efficient   with USC and other      Services
            and effective ground    research agencies
            truthing of koala                               USC
            presence/absence                                UQ Koala
            and health                                      Research
                                                            Network


      26

Section 29

Reference    Action                  Success Indicator       Responsibility      Time frame   Resources      Status

4.3          Maintain database       Data is entered         Environment         Ongoing      Officer time   Not started
             with koala records      quarterly on Wildnet    Services

4.4          Explore                 Consultation            Environment         June 2016    Officer time   Not started
             opportunities to        completed               Services
             improve the rigour of
             citizen science data
             records

4.5          Implement Noosa         FMP is implemented      Environment         Ongoing      Officer time   Started 2015
             Bushland Reserve                                Services and
             Fire Management                                 Parks and natural                FMP budget
             Plan (FMP) with a                               Areas
             focus on ‘high’ to
             ‘very high’ fire
             hazard areas

Objective 5. Informed infrastructure decisions

5.1          Include new Koala       New layer is included   GIS                 June 2016    Officer time   New Koala
             Mapping in Council’s                                                                            mapping finalised
             internal GIS            Infrastructure works                                                    March 2016
             mapping system for      are reviewed by the
             accessing by            Environment services
             Infrastructure          team and are
             Services                consistent with Koala
                                     Policy and
                                     State/Federal
                                     legislation



      27

Section 30

Reference   Action                  Success Indicator         Responsibility     Time frame      Resources            Status

5.2         Upload koala            Intranet webpage is       Environment        June 2016       Officer time         TMR technical
            sensitive design        developed                 Services                                                guidelines for
            guidelines on                                                                                             roads are
            Intranet                                          IT                                                      available online

5.3         Conduct audit of        Audit and feasibility     Environment        February 2017   Officer time         Not started
            current koala           report on                 Services
            infrastructure          development and                                              Tablet for mobile    Apply through IT
            including land          maintenance of koala                                         data collection      budget
            bridges, culverts,      friendly infrastructure                                      $4000
            pipes, culverts, road   is completed
                                                                                                 Current GIS
            signs, climbing                                                                      bridge asset layer
            ladders, directional
            and exclusion
            fencing.

5.4         Deliver koala hard      Koala infrastructure is   Civil operations   2017-2022       Officer time
            infrastructure during   delivered
            renewals at key                                                                      Cost of assets
            mitigation zones                                                                     TBA

5.5         Consult with Qld        Meet with State           Environment        April 2016      Officer time         Not started
            Department of           Government officers       Services
            Transport and Main
            Roads on koala
            infrastructure
            requirements for
            State Roads



      28

Section 31

Reference    Action                 Success Indicator     Responsibility    Time frame       Resources          Status

5.6          Monitor the            Monitoring is         Environment       Ongoing          Officer time       Started
             effectiveness of new   undertaken            Services
             technology trials
             such as road
             reflectors to
             discourage koalas
             and other wildlife
             from crossing roads,
             koala alert signs at
             crossing points and
             improved lighting

Objective 6. Conduct targeted pest control

6.1          Partner with Council   Campaign is run       Environment       One campaign     Officer time       Not started
             Regulatory Services    Spring each year      Services and      per year
             to promote                                   Regulatory                         Fact sheets
             responsible dog                              Services
             ownership

6.2          Targeted wild dog      Targeted wild dog     Environment       Twice per year   Officer time       Ongoing
             control in key Koala   control undertaken    services
             Habitat Areas as       twice per year                                           Current Wild Dog
             identified in Koala                          Pest Management                    program budget
             Threat Map

6.3          Investigate research   Research project is   Environment       2017/2018        Officer time       Not started
             opportunities to       undertaken            Services
             assess the impact of                                                            Research grant
             wild dogs on koala

      29

Section 32

Reference    Action                Success Indicator        Responsibility      Time frame          Resources           Status

             populations in
             Known Koala
             Habitat areas

Objective 7. Review translocation as a measure to increase local koala populations

7.1          Consult with State    Consultations occur      Environment         August 2016         Officer time        Not started
             Government and                                 Services
             experts on koala
             translocation

Objective 8. Increase community awareness and participation

8.1          Support koala         Each Sept (Koala         Environment         Annual events       Officer time        Ongoing
             conservation          Month), promote          Service
             through, public       koala conservation                                               July 2016           Update existing
             events, educational   and encourage            Parks and Natural                                           fact sheet
             materials, LFW,       residents and tourists   Areas
             VCA program and       to report koala
             tourism promotions.   findings to Council,
                                   USC or interest
                                   groups such as Koala
                                   Tracker.

                                   Undertake koala tree
                                   plantings through
                                   National Tree Day
                                                                                National Tree Day   Local sponsorship
                                                                                is held in July     and Council         Ongoing
                                                                                each year with      operational


      30

Section 33

Reference    Action                Success Indicator       Responsibility      Time frame          Resources      Status

                                                                               schools and         funding
                                                                               Bushcare Groups

8.2          Review fauna          Review and provide      Environment         February 2017       Officer time   Not started
             rescue network        brief report with       Services
             signage and contact   recommendations
             details

8.3          Engage with other     Meet with groups and    Environment         Ongoing             Officer time   Started in 2015
             Councils,             investigate             Services
             environment groups,   opportunities to
             NRM groups,           expand koala
             Bushland Care         corridors.
             Groups on koala
             corridor projects



Note: Costs for years 2-5 will be subject to results of infrastructure audits and budget deliberations




       31

Section 34

3.        Appendix
Stakeholder list

Organisation       Website                                          Contact

Advocacy

Australian         www.savethekoala.com                             3229 7233
Koala
Foundation                                                          Email: online
(AKF)

Koala Diaries http://www.koaladiaries.com.au/                       Website

                                                                    Email: online

Koala              http://www.koalatracker.com.au/                  0412 635 274
Tracker
                                                                    Email:
                                                                    [email protected]

Queensland         http://www.koalacrusaders.org.au/                Website
Koala
Crusaders                                                           Email: online
Inc.

Wildlife Care

Australia Zoo      http://wildlifewarriors.org.au/wildlife_hospit   5436 2097
Wildlife           al/
Hospital                                                            Email:
                                                                    hospital@wildlifewarrior
                                                                    s.org.au

Endeavour          http://www.endeavourvet.com.au/about-            Website
Veterinary         us.html
Ecology
                                                                    Email: Online

Moggill Koala https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/koalas/           3330 4666
Hospital      care/moggill-koala-hospital.html
                                                                    Email: online



      32

Section 35

RSPCA           http://www.rspcaqld.org.au/                General enquiries:

(and                                                       3426 9999
Eumundi
Wildlife Care                                              Wildlife emergencies:
and Rehab                                                  1300 264 625
Centre)
                                                           Email:

                                                           [email protected]

                                                           Eumundi Wildlife
                                                           Rehabilitation Centre

                                                           5442 8057

Sunshine        https://www.facebook.com/sunshinecoastk    0423 618 740
Coast Koala     oalawildliferescue/
Rescue                                                     0431 300 729

                                                           Email: Facebook

Wildlife        http://wilvos.org.au/                      54416200
Volunteers
Association                                                Email: Online
Inc. (Wilvos)

Wild Care       http://wildcare.org.au/                    5527 2444
Australia
                                                           Email:
                                                           [email protected]

Wildlife        http://www.wrsc.org.au/                    0432 310 556
Rescue
Sunshine                                                   0415 839 554
Coast Inc.                                                 Email:
                                                           [email protected]

Research

USC             http://www.usc.edu.au/connect/research-    5456 5415
Detection       and-innovation/animal-and-marine-ecology
Dogs for                                                   Email:
Conservation                                               [email protected]
                                                           u

UQ Koala        https://www.gpem.uq.edu.au/contact-us      3365 6455
Research
       33

Section 36

Network                                           Email:
                                                  [email protected]

Environment and Landcare Groups

Mary River     http://mrccc.org.au/               5482 4766
Catchment
Coordination                                      Email:
Committee                                         [email protected]
(MRCCC)

Noosa &        http://www.noosalandcare.org/      5485 2468
District
Landcare                                          Email:
Group                                             [email protected]
                                                  g

Noosa River    http://www.noosariver.com.au/      5449 9650
Integrated
Catchment                                         Email: online
Association
(NICA)

Noosa Parks    http://www.noosaparks.org.au/      Email:
Association                                       [email protected].
(NPA)                                             au

Sunshine       http://www.scec.org.au/            5441 5747
Coast
Environment                                       Email: online
Council

Regional
Natural
Resource
Manage-
ment
Groups

Burnett Mary   http://www.bmrg.org.au/            4181 2999
Regional
Group                                             Email:
(BMRG)                                            [email protected]

SEQ            http://www.seqcatchments.com.au/   5450 2677
Catchments
                                                  Email:

      34

Section 37

                                                           schapman@seqcatchm
                                                           ents.com.au

Government

Common-         http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversi   General enquiries:
wealth          ty/threatened/species/koala
Department of                                              1800 803 772
Environment                                                Email: online

Noosa Council   www.noosa.qld.gov.au                       5329 6500

                                                           Email:
                                                           [email protected]



Qld           https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/koalas 13 74 68
Department of /index.html
Environment &                                            [email protected]
Heritage
Protection

Qld National    http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/               13 74 68
Parks and
Wildlife                                                   Email:
Service                                                    [email protected]

Queensland      http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/                 13 74 68
Transport and
Main Roads

Other

Noosa           http://blog.noosabiosphere.org.au/         54740932
Biosphere®
                                                           Email: online

Tourism         http://www.visitnoosa.com.au/              13000NOOSA
Noosa




        35