NSW Government Funds Koala Protection in Port Stephens

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Port Stephens Council has secured $845,000 from the NSW Government, to assist with the protection of koalas around busy roads. 

The grant funding comes after a state-wide investigation into vehicle road-strike hotspots, identified Port Stephens Drive as one of the worst koala road-strike sites in NSW. 

Council's Group Manager of Development Services Steve Peart said although the numbers are concerning, the study also identified efficient and effective solutions to the problem. 

"From 2010 to 2020, 89 koala records have been identified along Port Stephens Drive, including 11 vehicle strike fatalities, five vehicle strike injury rescues and 11 rescues," Mr Peart said. 

"This grant funding from the NSW Government is allowing Council to install 2km fauna-proof fencing on both sides of Port Stephens Drive, retrofit 850 metres of koala-proof fencing to the existing Horizons Golf Course fence, build a 20 metre long box culvert as fauna underpass near southern boundary of the golf course and add koala pavement painting and roadside signage indicating koala speed zones."

The funding also coincides with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Port Stephens Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management. 

The plan has been adopted by Council since 2002 and is central to identifying and protecting local habitats and threats to koalas, as well as furthering conservation efforts in the area. 

Mr Peart said protecting this vulnerable population is a top priority for the community. 

"People have a really special affiliation with the koala; it's not every day you get to walk through a reserve, some bushland, or even along a beach and come across a koala either walking on the ground or up in a tree. It's a really important part of the identity of the people of Port Stephens," he said. 

Paterson Liberal Candidate Advocates for Port Stephens Koala Funding

 BY OLIVIA DILLON

Federal Liberal Candidate for Paterson, Brooke Vitnell, has announced this week she will advocate for Port Stephens to receive its fair share of the government's latest investment into the country's koala population. 

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley announced on Saturday, a $50 million package focused on improving health and habitat outcomes for koalas. 

The money brings the Morrison Government's commitment to koala conservation to almost $75 million since 2019. 

A volunteer and member of Port Stephens Koalas herself, Ms Vitnell said funds directed to the Hunter region would be dedicated to community-led initiatives and large-scale activities.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to secure much-needed funds to support Port Stephens-based projects that help preserve our beautiful koalas."

"We have terrific organisations in Port Stephens like the Port Stephens Koala Hospital that would certainly benefit from these funds."

Ms Vitnell also noted impact of recent bushfires on koalas in the Hunter region, and said specialist bushfire trauma training for local vets could prove vital in increasing survival prospects for the animals.

"My view is that we can't do enough to ensure the long-term recovery and health of our beloved koalas in Port Stephens, and I will certainly be advocating for Port Stephens and the Hunter to receive our share." 

Image: portstephenskoalas.com.au

Port Stephens Koalas Win Popular Vote

By MEGHAN RICHARDSON

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 

Hunter Residents Koalified to Report Wildlife Sightings

BY LILLY HAINES

NSW communities are being asked to share where they have seen wildlife in their local area as a new online Community Wildlife Survey launched yesterday.

The survey, conducted by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), asks local people to record sightings of ten key animals wherever they have been sighted across NSW in the last two years.

The survey is being funded as a part of the $44.7 million NSW Koala Strategy which is helping to secure the future of koalas in the wild.

Koala populations around the Hunter have been in decline over recent years in some areas and the NSW Koala Strategy also provides funding to set aside more than 20 000 hectares of state forest in NSW regions including the Hunter.

Port Stephens is the home to the largest population in the Hunter and even their numbers are decreasing dramatically with reports forecasting the extinction of the NSW koala population by 2050 without intervention. 

Science Director of the OEH, Dr. Tom Celebrezze, said the survey is collecting data on the populations of brushtail possums, foxes, platypus, wombats, koalas, spotted-tailed quolls, kangaroos, deer, and dingos.

"One great thing about using citizen scientists and local volunteers is that they're everywhere so this approach using people's eye witness accounts means we have millions of eyes looking for ten different common animals and that gives us some baseline information about where those animals are being seen," Mr Celebrezze said.

"This means that we then get data about these species that informs a whole range of programs and research, knowing where koalas are being seen so we know where the populations are located means that we can add that [information] to the many different programs we are doing looking at koalas," said Mr Celebrezze.

The OEH says community wildlife sightings are hugely valuable to researchers with the data from the survey helping to gain a better understanding of where wildlife is as well as information on their health and any threats to the animals.

The last survey was conducted by the OEH in 2006 when more than 16 000 people shared their wildlife sightings which helped shape research and conservation priorities for NSW, and this new survey hopes gather data showing how populations have changed in over ten years.

"We just really encourage everyone to get involved, maybe you have been on a family trip and your kids have seen an animal and maybe it's a good opportunity for them to learn more about science and how they can get involved in conservation," Mr Celebrezze said.

The Community Wildlife Survey can be accessed here.

Image: John Spencer/OEH

Save Mambo Wetlands Rally This Weekend

BY TANIA SALITRA

An onsite fundraising rally will be held this Sunday 9^th September, to help finance the fight to save Mambo Wetlands from development.   

Organised by the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands Conservation Group, it's hoped to raise funds to assist with the ongoing legal costs to retain the koala habitat and ecological asset for fish nurseries and the 22 species of frogs that live in the wetland.

Secretary for MWWCG, Kathy Brown says that the Planning Department has made an offer to buy back the land, but this was rejected by the owner Paul Unicomb.  

With compulsory acquisition still a possibility, their focus is now on pushing the State Government to get the land back into public hands.   

On the day there will be information on what has been happening recently in the fight with Port Stephens MP Kate Washington speaking. 

Along with a BBQ sponsored by Salamander Bay Recycling Centre, there will be live entertainment with Newcastle band Chowder Keg.

The event will be held from 11-3pm on Sunday 9^th September at 109 Foreshore Dr, Salamander Bay.

Partnership Established To Save Koalas

BY ARIANA GATTI

A new partnership has been brought to light between aviation centre, Newcastle Airport and animal conservationist association - Port Stephens Koalas.

The two businesses are joining together to reduce koala motor vehicle injuries and fatalities within the Port Stephen's and surrounding areas.

Newcastle Airport has so far provided the necessary funds to install a mobile warning road sign, which will bring drivers' attention to keep an eye out for any koalas that may be wandering about.

With active and numerous populations of native koalas around the Williamtown, Tilligerry Peninsula and Nelson Bay regions, the sign will encourage drivers to slow their speed to at least 40km/h.

The mobile sign will have the ability to be moved across the Port Stephen's area, becoming operational from tomorrow, the 29th of June.

Port Stephens Koalas Secretary, Ron Land, says the mammals have been caught up in many accidents so far around these areas, with the number of fatalities looking considerable high over the past few years.

"We lost at least 32 koalas around 2016 and 2017, which is a worry considering we are trying to protect the species", he says.

"There has already been some fatalities so far this year, even one just two days ago; which is not a good sign as they are meant to be in hibernation around this time of the season".

Image Sourced: https://www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/your-council/news/unanimous-support-for-$3m-koala-hospital-at-one-mile

Port Stephens To Receive $3 Million Dollars For Koala Hospital

BY OLIVIA PORTELL

Animal rescue organisation, Port Stephens Koalas, will receive $3 million dollars to go towards a new koala hospital.

It is hoped the hospital will take the burden off local volunteers, who, up until now, have been operating out of their own homes.

Port Stephens Koalas Care and Rescue Coordinator Simone Aurino says having adequate facilities will mean more progress can be made.

"We need to contribute to conservation in many ways and without a central facility, it makes it very difficult for us to do this," she says.

However, Ms Aurino says getting the government on board has not been an easy process for volunteers.

"This has been an absolute mammoth task- it's not something that has happened overnight, we've had a team working on this project dedicated solely to this for several years," she says.

"They've had to really petition the government, supply all the supporting data that really shows why this should move ahead, and it's brilliant that it's finally being recognised."

$20 million dollars has also been allocated to purchase land for preservation.

It comes after six hectares of the Mambo Wetlands was sold last year, which is prime koala habitat.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington says the funding is long over due.

"We've been critical of the government in its delay on even releasing its koala strategy," she says.

"Whilst that's been delayed, we've seen our koala numbers plummet."

Ms Washington says she hopes the government will consider buying back the section of the Mambo Wetlands which was sold for $250 thousand dollars last year.

"We are renewing our calls heartily for the government to spend some of that allocation of funds to returning the Mambo Wetlands to public hands."