The State Government stated that the steep decline in South East Queensland’s koala population demanded that tighter development controls be introduced without delay — to boost the protection of koalas in new urban areas until the proposed state planning policy for koala conservation is in place. (Refer: http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/regional-planning/interim-development-controls.html )

These interim controls — the South East Queensland Koala State Planning Regulatory Provisions came into effect in draft form on 12 December 2008 and, following community consultation, were finalised on 1 July 2009.  (Refer: http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/plan/koala/final-aprp-01-07-09.pdf )

The regulatory provisions (Provisions) apply only to a limited number of sites in the urban environment and a large number of exemptions have recently been introduced into the new Provisions. It means little if any protection is provided to the urban koalas other than those found upon land designated for conservation purposes.

The State Governments own scientific reports showed the importance of protecting urban koala habitat.  These findings are supported by koala expert Frank Carrick AM.   Mr. Carrick stated the sudden loss of koalas is not due to the drought; there is no scientific evidence supporting such claims.

The results of the 2008 Koala Coast koala survey estimates a population of 2279 animals. Based on the population estimate of 4611 koalas in 2005-2006, this represents a 51% decline in less than three years and a 64% decline in the 10 years since the original 1996-1999 estimate of 6246 koalas.

The largest declines occurred in bushland areas which showed a 59% reduction in koala numbers compared with a 30% reduction in urban areas. The large reduction of koalas in otherwise secure bushland was found to be a flow on effect from excessive habitat loss and mortality in urban areas (DIP, 2009; EPA, 2009).
(Refer: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/publications/p02966aa.pdf/Decline_of_the_Koala_Coast_koala_population_population_status_in_2008.pdf &
http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/regional-planning/koala-conservation-seq-2.html )

Recent koala deaths have been shown to be associated with the State Government allowing the clearing of koala habitat on State owned land within the urban environment. The total clearing of koala habitat is contrary to promises they made to the Premier’s Koala Taskforce.

Clearly, recent events and the weakening of the new Provisions show there is no genuine desire to save the urban koalas. State Government actions suggest urban development has a higher priority than protecting koala habitat.

Clearly, if we want to keep koalas we need to recognise there are limits to growth else we will push them to extinction.

It is perhaps those people who believe in the fool’s dream of endless growth who pose the greatest threat to the koala.

Simon Baltais
Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland