Moreton Bay acting mayor slams State Government’s new koala mapping scheme as a “disappointment”

The acting mayor of one of Australia’s largest councils has slammed new maps of koala habitat, claiming 15,000ha of land currently preserving the iconic species would be removed.

AUSTRALIA’S third largest council has joined the growing chorus of groups criticising the State Government’s new koala mapping project, after its mayor sent a scathing letter sent to Premier Palaszczuk yesterday.

Moreton Bay Regional Council acting mayor Mike Charlton slammed the map as a “disappointment,” alleging the new plans remove 15,000 hectares of existing conservation areas just within his council area.

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In the letter, also sent to environment minister Leeanne Enoch, Cr Charlton said new maps would fragment populations and drive the species closer to extinction.

“The State Government’s new koala habitat mapping has created isolated patches of koala habitat across the urban landscape and does not include local corridors and linkages,” he wrote.

Moreton Bay acting mayor Mike Carlton said the species would be further threatened by the new maps. Picture: File.

Cr Charlton also accused two state departments, the Department of Environment and Science and the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, of failing to act on Moreton Bay Regional Council’s feedback and requests for meetings.

“Council calls on the State Government to appropriately consider the concerns raised by Council and the Moreton Bay community, to pause the recent regulatory changes,” he said.

Acting mayor Mike Charlton accused the State Government of not listening to Moreton Bay Regional Council’s demands. Photo: Erin Smith for Redcliffe Herald

“Failure to do so will put koala populations at further risk, at a time when the country’s koala population is already in crisis following the recent bushfires.”

Responding to a request for comment, the Department of Environment and Science said it would “continue to work with local governments in the development of the final koala strategy,” and had met with Moreton Bay Regional Council earlier this month.