ENVIRONMENT Minister Dr Steven Miles has announced a new survey that will ask for the community’s opinion on the declining koala population.
Dr Miles visited Makepeace Island on Friday 30 September for a fund-raising luncheon and said the government was now seeking comment from the public through a new online survey that would gauge community perceptions on koalas and their management.
Dr Miles said the survey would be used in part by a newly appointed koala expert panel in the development of recommendation for future strategies to ensure the long-term survival of koalas in the wild.
“We want input from the public and will also be consulting with key organisations including regional councils, land use and planning representatives, and koala conservation representatives,” he said.
Some of the questions on the survey include: What are the threats that are having the greatest impact to koalas in your local area? Can you recommend measures that could address these threats? Do you record koala sightings in your area?
But Member for Noosa Glen Elmes said Noosa’s koalas didn’t need a survey, they need a home, and the idea of a survey is a “death sentence for koalas”.
“I appreciate the time the minister took to visit Noosa today, and I know that he has a genuine interest in the preservation of these unique animals, but to come all this way to a function at Makepeace Island that will raise in excess of $25,000 and announce the government intends to conduct a survey of residents to find out what they think, is not a joke it is virtually a death sentence for koalas in the south east,” Mr Elmes said.
“I was pleased to hear Professor (Peter) Timms and (Dr Jon) Hanger plan to spend time in Noosa looking at the wild koala populations in particular at Lake Weyba, which will involve having collars fitted so as to closely monitor disease and movements. It is direct action that is required, not another talk-fest that will simply waste tax payer money.
“Once again I urge the minister to make use of the land that was purchased by the LNP at Lake MacDonald Drive for koala habitat and reinvigoration translocations programs as a matter of urgency.”
Speaking at today’s luncheon, Dr Miles also praised the work of the Richard Branson Koala Conservancy in raising awareness of the plight of the koala and said studies were needed to help the population.
“The drastic decline in koala numbers led to the establishment of this conservancy and a commitment by Makepeace Island owners Sir Richard Branson and Brett Godfrey to fund koala research,” he said.
“As is the case with the State Government, the conservancy believes that action must be based on scientific research.”
The new survey is on the Get Involved website www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au and will be open until Friday 21 October.
