Port Stephen's Koalas have won the popular vote in the New South Wales Government's My Community Grant program.
The conservation group will receive a $200 000 grant which will lead to the development of a koala hospital.
They received the highest number of votes in the Port Stephens area and were voted second-highest in the state.
This has been the first time communities have had the opportunity to vote on the local programs they care about.
Port Stephen's Koalas is dedicated to koala preservation and the threat to koalas from habitat loss and declining population rates.
The development of Port Stephen's koala hospital is now on track for completion in May 2020. The facility will rescue and rehabilitate the cuddly cultural icons.
Currently, there is only one Koala hospital in the mid-north coast of New South Wales dedicated to the care of wild koalas.
Port Stephen's MP, Kate Washington offered her congratulations to all of the community groups involved and thanked the locals for participating and voting.
"The community has been able to vote on its most popular project and its delightful to see Port Stephens Koalas winning that vote so it can now fit out its all important koala hospital that is designed to try and save Port Stephen's koalas from extinction," said Kate Washington.
"It will be an enormous asset for our area and our entire region," she continued. Because its not just going to be looking after sick and injured koalas, its also gonna be an impressive tourism attraction. So its win win all around for Port Stephens."
The new facility will open in Tomaree as part of the overarching Koala Sanctuary Project.
For my information about the community program check them out here.
 |
| Image Source: Port Stephens Council |
