By JOLENE OGLE
NOOSA koalas are one step closer to better conservation as Noosa Council takes steps to create a koala policy for the region.
A council staff report was handed to the Planning and Organisation Committee on Tuesday, outlining the need for a specific koala policy to help protect the vulnerable species.
The recommendation to create a koala policy comes after calls from the community for Noosa Council to develop measures to protect koala populations in the shire.
A koala policy would build on existing state regulations and guidelines and give local guidance to koala conservation efforts, including provisions and policies in planning and management procedures.
National koala mapping founder and local real estate agent Alex Harris said she commended Noosa Council for inviting public consultation on a potential koala policy.
“The koala is significant to Noosa in terms of tourism and environmental values,” she said.
“The future of our declining koala population is an emotive subject in the community.”
Ms Harris said it was “reassuring” to know Noosa Council had an interest in the local koala population and was calling on local residents to keep their koala sighting reports up to date.
“The mapping of local koalas is strong, proving we do have koala residents across Tewantin, Noosa Heads, Doonan, and Sunshine Beach to Peregian, with some sighting records for Cootharaba, Cooroibah, Cooroy and Noosaville,” she said.
“Koala Tracker has also shown the extensive range of koalas we assume to be resident in the Noosa National Park.
“These koalas, identified through photographs, are seen as often at Tea Tree Bay as they are at the lookout around Halse Lodge. And that range is clearly important to them.”
Ms Harris said awareness was the first step in engaging the community in localised conservation.
“I would urge everyone to map their sightings on Koala Tracker (online), to add their voice to the community consultation,” she said.
Public consultation will begin at a later date, with council to also consult with experts in the fields of koala research and conservation.
