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

                                                     Noosa Shire Koala Conservation Plan 2016




Those roads that traverse known koala habitat areas (Map 3, page 18) are to be prioritised for
auditing of koala infrastructure. The process of identifying koala infrastructure needs for these
roads is as follows:
    •	Undertake an audit of existing wildlife structures in Known Koala Habitat Areas,
       including their location and condition
    •      Identify areas where there are ‘gaps’ in koala infrastructure
    •	Develop a feasibility report including cost to deliver and maintain koala infrastructure
       at priority sites during infrastructure upgrades

New koala infrastructure will be considered for major road projects located in proximity to
known koala habitat areas. Consultation with the Department of Transport and Main Roads will
be required on koala infrastructure needs identified on State Roads.

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) provide Fauna Sensitive
Road Design technical manuals for road infrastructure. TMR is also financially supporting koala
research and koala detection dogs.

Soft infrastructure
Car strike is one of the leading causes of death and injury for koalas in Noosa Shire in
developed areas (see Chart 1 next page). Between 1995-1999, the Queensland National Parks
and Wildlife Service, the Queensland Department of Main Roads and Redland City Council
undertook a trial of speed limit reductions from 80km/hr to 60km/hr between 7pm and 5am, in
August and December when koalas are most active. 1407 koalas were hit by cars during the
trial period and most died. Results indicated that there was no significant reduction in speed
by motorists, and no evidence that low speed zones cause a reduction in koalas being hit by
cars. QPWS suggested that speed limits would have to be reduced below 60 km to have any
affect. To implement a Noosa shire wide road speed reduction from 80-100km/hr to say 40km/
hr, similar to school zones, would require significant community support and substantial police
regulation. Efforts would be better directed to improved koala infrastructure to facilitate safe
road crossings or exclusion fencing at key sites.

Similarly the effectiveness of koala signs or markings along roads needs to be reviewed as
motorists often do not notice signs/markings and improved lighting will only assist in ‘go slow
zones’. Innovative signs and speed bumps may be an option in key koala crossing areas.



1.2.6		 Effective wild and domestic dog control
Domestic and wild dogs can significantly impact on koala populations. Records indicate that
the greatest cause of injury and mortality to koalas in Noosa Shire is from disease and car
strike (see Chart 1). However, the majority of records come from areas that are actively used
by humans (roads and residential areas). Within the Noosa records there are a small number
of records of mortality from dog attack, but these are likely to be domestic dog.




                                                                                Noosa Council | Page 21