Approved report - RACV Koala Management Plan

1. Introduction
Since February 2022, koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) have been listed as endangered
under the Commonwealth Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,
applying increased level of protection for koalas in Queensland, New South Wales, and
the Australian Capital Territory. Under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act (1992) the
koala was listed as an endangered species in 2020.

Koalas live over a range of open forest and woodland communities, with habitat quality
reliant on the presence of food trees. Koalas are found in higher densities where food
trees are growing on more fertile soils and along watercourses.

The distribution of koalas covers much of Queensland, with some historically dense
populations in the southeast. Noosa has been home to koalas since records of presence
began, however anecdotal data confirms that the declines documented for other areas of
the state extend to this area of their range.

This Koala Management Plan sets out the requirements for training and induction of staff,
planning operations that may impact koalas, undertaking those operations, addressing the
welfare of impacted koalas and review of this plan.


It is mandatory that the approved Koala Management Plan is implemented.



1.1               Development at 142 Noosa Drive, Noosa



Under the Noosa Plan 2020, the 6.4 Ha (approx.) site is mapped as connecting habitat
area, tourist accommodation, area of biodiversity significance and is subject to the
Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code. The land is mapped by the State as
Category B remnant vegetation and, significantly, has recently been mapped as core koala
habitat. It lies outside of a Koala Priority Area.


With Eucalyptus robusta, a known koala food tree, common across the subject site, its
value to koalas lies in both food and shelter resources. However, encroachment of weeds,


Koala Management Plan        Version:   4        Approved by:   W Ellis   Date approved: 27 Jan 2023
                                                 3