2017-08-08 P&E - Attachment 1 to Item 6 - Noosa Koala Conservation Plan

                                                     Noosa Shire Koala Conservation Plan 2016




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 community
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.
Koalas used to have a bounty and between 1915 and 1919, over one million koalas were killed
in Queensland. 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. 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. Further research will help build
on our current knowledge of the distribution and
abundance of koalas across Noosa Shire.



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.



1.2        Objectives of the Koala Conservation Plan
The Noosa Koala Conservation Plan identifies eight objectives for each of the key policy areas
identified in the Koala Conservation Policy:
      •    Conserve koalas and habitat through statutory provisions
      •    Conserve koalas and habitat through non-statutory means
      •    Improved understanding of koala needs and behaviours
      •    Improved data collection and mapping of local koala populations
      •    Informed infrastructure decisions
      •    Effective wild dog and domestic dog control
      •    Implement translocation consistent with State policy
      •    Increased community awareness and participation

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