Qld koala protections branded inadequate by green group

Premier Steven Miles’s environmental credentials are under attack from green groups, as koala protections prove inadequate.

Premier Steven Miles’s environmental credentials are under attack from green groups, who say koalas will simply “die out a little slower” under current protections.

The state government’s review of its 2020 koala habitat protection regulations found while they had been effective, some elements had not worked as intended.

It found a lack of habitat clearing data and a misinterpretation of some regulations leading to clearing of koala habitat and unnecessary delays and costs in preparing development applications.

Queensland Conservation Council urban sustainability strategist Jen Basham said the regulations were still not strong enough to protect koalas.

“The government’s proposed changes won’t do enough to stop them from going extinct,” she said.

“The regulations introduced in 2020 have helped to slow the decline in koala habitat.

“That is positive and the proposed regulatory changes overall will improve the system, particularly with collecting better data on development impacting koala habitat.

“By themselves the new regulations will not reverse the trajectory of habitat loss in time to save the koala.”

Environment Minister Leanne Linard

South East Queensland’s population is expected to increase to six million people over the next 25 years, with an average of 34,500 new dwellings each year.

Environment Minister Leanne Linard said the growth created pressures on wildlife.

“The growing demand for land supply presents a considerable challenge for the preservation of koala habitat into the future,” she said.

“That is why it is essential that our koala conservation regulations achieve the right balance between conservation and development.”

Ms Basham called for new environmental protections to monitor and reject projects that would destroy habitat.

“The mission to save koalas is tied up in too many loopholes,” she said.

“Exemptions continue to prioritise development over the protection of koala habitat.

“Logging native forests on private land is exempt, meaning there could literally be a koala in a tree that is logged without any monitoring.

“The state also continues to give itself exemptions on a raft of urban, infrastructure and transport related development, with far less rigour and transparency around preserving habitat.

“We know we need housing, but we need to build up and densify, not out with more greenfields development.”