Man Walks from Coffs Harbour to Sydney via Newcastle in Bid for Koala Habitat

 BY OLIVIA ARIGHO

Environmental campaigner Peter Elzer is walking from Coffs Harbour to Sydney dressed in a koala suit, to demand the NSW Government honour its 2023 commitment to establish the Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast.

Mr Elzer’s campaign seeks to raise awareness about an unfulfilled $80 million funding pledge for the park, which environmentalists say is critical to protecting koalas and other threatened species in the region.

“I will be handing [Premier Chris Minns] a letter with a plea for koalas and critically endangered animals.

“Environmentalists and scientists have been clear in that we need to change forest management practices,” he said.

Mr Elzer’s criticised the Government for what he describes as a poor effort on conservation.

“This announcement was made two-and-a-half years ago and this still hasn’t been done. What they have done is the the reverse, which is intensify their logging in such areas,” he said.

He’s walking through Newcastle today and visiting Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp's office.

Community calling for more time to consider Raymond Terrace development

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter and Central Coast Planning Panel is facing calls to extend the deadline for submissions on the proposed Kings Hill development north of Raymond Terrace.

There's concern, residents have had just a month to respond, especially in the leadup to the Christmas period.

Submissions close on Friday 9 December, but Greens MP Cate Faehrmann has written to the Planning Panel, calling for an extra month to Friday 20 January in the new year.

Environmental groups and locals have raised the alarm, the project could result in the destruction of 152 hectares of koala habitat.

Ms Faehrmann says she's worried the project is "being rushed through the planning system", and the community needs more time to digest and evaluate the development applications.

Hunter koalas hoping for lifeline in Federal funding

BY DAKOTA TAIT

It's hoped the Hunter will get a share in a $10 million funding stream to protect endangered koalas on the East Coast.

It's part of a larger $50 million package launched by the Federal Government.

There's concern development and habitat loss, such as at the Brandy Hill quarry expansion, are pushing local populations to the brink.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley says the Commonwealth's committed to keeping the species thriving.

"When we restore and invest in koala habitat, it makes sense to do it where the koala trees are, where the corridors are," Ms Ley said.

"Where there are strong areas of habitat and we can actually act on a landscape scale."

Liberal Candidate for Paterson Brooke Vitnell is urging the Government to get behind efforts to protect habitats in Port Stephens.

Ms Ley didn't confirm money will flow into local programs, though they will be eligible.

Oakvale Wildlife Park owner Kent Sansom says they could do with the support, especially as the region bounces back from COVID.

"Obviously, we took a big hit internationally," Mr Sansom said. "We lost all our international visitors at the park."

"But local support has been incredible. Obviously, people can't travel overseas, so everyone just wants to get out, and what better place to get out than in your local environment and to be outside and pat animals, be educated about wildlife, and have fun doing it."

Oakvale's Tiny Tim met reporters on Monday morning.

Scientists Call on Port Stephens Community to Spot Koalas and Help Save the Species

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

Port Stephens community members are working with scientists to collect information to help save koalas in the region.

The citizen science initiative, led by the University of Newcastle aims to capture a complete picture of the Port Stephens koala population to inform a koala monitoring program that will help protect the species.

For the past 12 months the research team has been surveying for koalas on public land in the Port Stephens area. Researchers are now asking the community to help complete the picture.

The research project invites interested community members to help by reporting sightings or sounds of koalas, discoveries of sick or deceased koalas, koala threats and pests in the area.

The survey launch follows recent approval to expand the Brandy Hill quarry, a decision which the researchers believe bring into sharp focus the importance of conservation plans for Australia’s unique wildlife.

The project is led by conservation scientist Dr Ryan Witt, PhD candidate Lachlan Howell and honours student Shelby Ryan from the University’s School of Environmental and Life Sciences, with funding from FAUNA Research Alliance and the Federal Communities Environment Program.

“In Port Stephens and other coastal regions in NSW, koala populations are declining rapidly due to multiple threats, mostly caused by humans, such as habitat destruction, bushfires, vehicle strikes, dog attacks and disease,” Dr Witt said.

 

“Declining population size and habitat isolation leads to inbreeding, which results in koala populations that are less fertile, more susceptible to disease and less equipped to cope with the threats of climate change." 

 

“There are so many unknowns about koala population levels but if we can piece together an accurate picture of the population, we’ll be able to understand the risks they face and put plans in place to stop their decline.”

“We know the Port Stephens community are passionate about their koalas and saving the population so by working in partnership with the community we are tapping into that passion and their knowledge. 

"We’ll be combining conservation science with citizen science to identify and map areas important to koalas, which will allow us to inform future research and management actions for koalas in Port Stephens,” Dr Witt said.

The Community Survey is available here and is open until April 2021.

Those who complete the survey also go in the running to win  a $500 gift card or a selection of prizes valued up to $100.

Image Credit: Euronews

Newcastle University Academics Call For Brandy Hill Quarry Expansion To Be Stopped

BY IAN CROUCH

A new report by two Newcastle University Academics has recommended the Federal Environment Minister overturn planning approvals for the expansion of the Brandy Hill Quarry.

Dr Ryan Witt and Associate Professor John Clulow say the proposed 52 hectare expansion would sever an East-West Koala corridor, disrupt vital breeding processes and destroy high suitability habitat which is vital to the survival of Koalas here and across the state.

Shadow Environment Minister and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington says Federal Environment Minister Susan Ley must step in.

"The statutory timeframe for the minister to respond is 8 September, so the clock is ticking. And we are desperate now for there to be as many people as they can raising their voices on behalf of our local Koalas and urging the minister to refuse this project and stop the 52 hectares of core Koala habitat being cleared," she said.

Port Stephens residents rally to support the local Koala population Picture: portstephensexaminer.com.au

New $20 Million Scheme to Save Hunter Koalas

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The state government is allocating $20 million to save koala populations in the Hunter region.

Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton has identified Port Stephens as a priority area for the private land purchase scheme, as part of a $44.7 million statewide commitment to the iconic Australian marsupial.

Environmental reports forecast the NSW koala population could be extinct by 2050 without intervention.

The government is keen to purchase properties with occupied koala habitat situated near or adjoining areas like Gir-um-bit National Park; Myall Lakes; Tomaree; Hunter Wetlands; Tillegerry and the Worimi or Wallaroo National Parks; Karuah; Moffats Swamp Nature Reserves and Medowie.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said there's not much time so landholders will need to apply quickly.

"We're trying to encourage people to think about land where there's evidence of koalas, there's a sustainable population, there's some size and scale," he explained, "[interested landholders] will hold a discussion with the Office of Environment and Heritage and see if it can qualify.

"This is only open until December 6th."

Community groups and other interested parties are also welcome to propose land with suitable koala habitat for inclusion in the national park estate.

The state opposition has long been critical of Minister Upton's stance on koalas, with Labor last month accusing the government of failing the animals, by introducing new biodiversity conservation laws which mean Port Stephens koalas cannot be listed as 'endangered' with the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee.

Labor's environment spokesperson Penny Sharpe took to the floor of parliament later in September to accuse the Berejiklian Government of ongoing deforestation and tree clearing reforms.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington today said she's not convinced about the new land purchase package.

"I can't say that it would work - we've got a situation where people are being asked within six weeks whether they'd like their land bought up and to put a price on it," Ms Washington said.

"For people to be able to do that in the timeframe is really difficult. What I would ask the government to do is firstly buy back Mambo Wetlands which they should never have sold off. They should also be including the Fishermans Bay land that's owned by Landcom and was going to be developed by Landcom until the community took the government to court and stopped them," the MP said.

There's also been a lukewarm response from the NSW Greens, with MP Dawn Walker describing the scheme as inadequate to stopping the future decline of koalas.

"While the state government's proposal...is a logical step, it's alarming that the government refuses to apply the same strategic oversight to protecting core koala habitat on public lands, like state forests."

Scot MacDonald believes a Mambo Wetlands buy-back could be possible in future, but only if its owners are prepared to cooperate and sell the land for a price representing value for the taxpayer.

Full details on the private land purchase scheme are available here.