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

                  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