VegetationManagementPropertyReport-20200319111025155000 · MCU20/0022

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is listed in Queensland as vulnerable by the Queensland Government under the Nature
Conservation Act 1992 and by the Australian Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999.

The Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017 allows koala habitat areas and koala priority areas to be
determined and requires that these are shown on the Koala Conservation Plan Map. Koala habitat areas are areas that
contain koala habitat which is essential for the conservation of a viable koala population in the wild. Please note that these
areas only apply to lots in the South East Queensland "Shaping SEQ" Regional Plan area. These areas include the local
government areas of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan, Lockyer Valley, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim,
Somerset, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba (urban extent).

Koala habitat areas include koala habitat areas (core) and koala habitat areas (locally refined). Following input from each
local government, koala habitat areas (locally refined) were developed. Koala habitat areas (locally refined) will be afforded
the same protection during a two year transitional period as if they were koala habitat areas (core) identified by the State.

Koala priority areas are areas where long-term management (e.g. habitat protection, habitat restoration and threat mitigation)
and monitoring will be strategically focused as the areas have the highest likelihood of achieving conservation outcomes for
koalas.

Clearing koala habitat areas in a koala priority area is prohibited, except for in certain circumstances (see Schedule 10, 16A
of the Planning Regulation 2017). Clearing cannot occur (other than for exempt activities) and a development application
cannot be lodged for prohibited activities.

Development located inside a koala priority area on lots that contain koala habitat area, but do not involve clearing of koala
habitat, will be assessed by local government, except for in certain circumstances (see Schedule 11, Parts 1 and 2 of the
Planning Regulation 2017). This is to manage and minimise impacts on koala habitat, such as edge effects.

Outside of koala priority areas, clearing of koala habitat areas must be avoided, mitigated or offset. Development that is
proposing to clear koala habitat area will be assessed by the Queensland Government, except for in certain circumstances
(see Schedule 10, 16B of the Planning Regulation 2017).

For more information on development requirements see
https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/koalas/mapping/legislation-policy.

Landholders (or a person acting on landholder's behalf) can request to have a koala habitat area determination for an area
made, amended or revoked if they believe there is an error. For more information, see
https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/koalas/mapping/legislation-policy.

The koala conservation plan maps will be updated at least annually to include any koala habitat areas that have been made,
amended or revoked.

In order to ensure that the most recent map for an area of interest can be accessed, prior to the annual update, a register of
changes made to koala habitat areas as a result of the map amendment process will be available at:
https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/koalas/mapping/. The register will include lot on plan for the
change, the date the decision was made and the map issued to the landholder which shows areas determined to be koala
habitat areas.

For further information on the regulatory framework for koala conservation, including koala priority areas and koala habitat
areas, please see the Queensland Government website at
https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/koalas/mapping/legislation-policy or contact Koala Assessment
and Compliance, Department Environment and Science, at [email protected] Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF)
The ERF is an Australian Government scheme which offers incentives for businesses and communities across the economy
to reduce emissions.

Under the ERF, landholders can earn money from activities such as planting (and keeping) trees, managing regrowth
vegetation and adopting more sustainable agricultural practices.

The purpose of a project is to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Each project will provide new economic
opportunities for farmers, forest growers and land managers.

Further information on ERF is available at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/state/use/carbon-rights/.



Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, 2020                               Page 11