2015-07-21 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

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       The current population of koalas in the Noosa Heads National Park Headland section on the northem 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 on Bribie Island.

       As the Queensland Koala Conservation Plan 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 Chiamydiosis, which causes blindness,
       infertility and sometimes death

       Translocation of Koalas

       Translocation is controlled by the State Government. There are strict rules that must be met. Currently, koalas must be returned
       in close proximity to their place of origin. This is commonplace amongst regulations covering rehabilitated wildlife generally. It is
       designed to prevent indiscriminate translocations and to increase survival rates. Translocating animals to new areas has the
       potential to upset existing territories and also spread pathogens to new populations.
       However the practice of sending koalas back to where they came from may mean that koalas in dangerous environments are
       returned to meet further misfortune.

       In discussions about translocation with experts at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, it appears that
           @)   Koalas tend to be faithful to their home ranges and will attempt to return if moved out of them. Translocating koalas
                over 4 years of age, and particularly males, can be problematic because they have a tendency to want to find their
                original territory.
            b)  tis not a simple matter to transfer koalas from different habitats, For exarnpie, koalas in seaside locales have very
                different nutrient loads to those in hinterland environments. Trying to put a coastal koala into an inland forest and vice-
                versa is not considered good practice. The experts also warmed that coastal koalas are considerably less healthy as a
                resultof the poor nutrients in trees growing on sandy soil.
       Translocation is a complex issue, and rarely the easy solution that some people may believe. Noosa Council will need to take a
       cautious approach to translocation proposals,
       Government Requirements

       At the national level, environment protection of the Queensland, NSW and ACT koaia populations as vulnerable species has
       strengthened the existing state protections for koalas. National environment protection doesn't mean that all activities in these
       areas will require federal environmental approval,
       Only projects likely to have a very significant impact on the koala population in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT will
       need to be assessed under national environment law.
      The federal government has released referral Guidelines to assist proponents and decision makers in navigating the
       requirements of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as it relates to koala conservation.
      At the state level, the South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provisions 2010 (SPRP) applies to
       Jocal planning instruments. This incorporates priority koala assessable development areas, Parts of Noosa are included |n this
       designation. The SPRP regulates assessable development only, where that development meets certain triggers. There are a
   __ fange of developments to which the provisions do not apply - e.g. self-assessable developments or those that are declared to be
2,    significant projects under the Stete Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971, etc.

     NOOSA COUNCIL                     PO Box    14                     P  (07) 5329 650!           [email protected].  at

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