2016-07-12 - Item 10 - Att 1 - Koala Conservation Plan

       Noosa Shire Koala Conservation Plan 2016




         Case study: Federal Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) Cluster
         In the western part of Noosa Shire, at the locality of Federal, three VCA landholders
         have been active with efforts to conserve local koalas. The landholders have been
         monitoring and recording koalas in the area and recently participated in a survey with
         University of Sunshine Coast researchers and Maya, the koala detection dog. Most
         evidence occurs in Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora) country along ridgelines. This
         data has contributed to expanding the known range of koalas in the western part of
         the Shire and has been included in the Noosa Shire Koala Habitat map.




         Controlling weeds in koala habitat on VCA land
         Photo: Joel Morris




     Noosa and District Landcare Group (NDLG)
     Noosa and District Landcare Group (NDLG) have been involved in habitat restoration projects
     on both private and public land for many years. In 2013, NDLG were successful in gaining
     $30,000 in grant funding for the ‘Noosa Hinterland Koala Habitat Restoration and Awareness
     Project’ through the Everyone’s Environment Grant Program. The project involved extensive
     consultation with private landholders and key stakeholders such as Council, Koala Care
     Groups, Environment Groups, Natural Resource Management Groups and research agencies.
     The project was promoted through the media, environmental networks and koala brochures
     were distributed to landholders inviting them to be part of the initiative. Seven properties were
     selected and two-thousand koala trees were planted. Workshops, school visits and community
     events were held to promote the importance of koala conservation.


Page 12 | Noosa Council