Proposed upgrade to Friends of the Koala facilities in Lismore to help save remaining northern NSW koalas

The Northern Rivers’ only licenced koala hospital is seeking council consent for a big upgrade to help save the marsupials now listed as “vulnerable to extinction”.

An artist rendering of Friends of the Koala’s proposed development in East Lismore.

Lismore’s friendly neighbourhood koala hospital is seeking Lismore City Council’s consent for a proposed $835,000 upgrade to its facilities to help save the animals declared “vulnerable to extinction”.

The upgrades to the Friends of the Koala Hospital and Care Centre facilities on Rifle Range Rd means more specialised operations would be possible.

Dr Jackie Reed, superintendent and vet with Friends of the Koala Hospital, said: “The Friends of the Koala hospital has always provided gold standard treatment, but the facilities have limited our ability to do more specialised surgery, such as endoscopies, advanced orthopaedics and dental surgery.”

A sick koala being treated at Lismore's Friends of the Koala hospital. Picture: Supplied

The hospital is the only licensed koala rescue, rehabilitation and release sanctuary in the Northern Rivers. Currumbin Wildlife Hospital also operates on the southern Gold Coast.

The NSW government has listed koalas have been listed as “vulnerable to extinction”.

Friends of the Koala volunteers are on the front line trying desperately to save the marsupials.

“Expansion of the hospital is going to allow us to have separate surgical space, a designated laboratory, x-ray room, pharmacy, necropsy room, treatment room and ICUs,” Dr Reed said.

The lone survivor of a spate of car hits on the Bruxner Hwy between Lismore and Casino, Seeanna the koala joey, being rehabilitated at Friends of the Koala Hospital and Care Centre.

Dr Reed said increases in vehicle hits, disease and extreme weather events demonstrated the need for the expansion of hospital and rehabilitation facilities.

“This expansion will allow more space in the hospital itself, and more space for koalas to recover and prepare for their release back into the wild,” she said.

Koala vet Jodie Wakeman and koala vet nurse Marley Christian in a rehabilitation enclosure at Friends of the Koala in Lismore.

“Increased capacity will also ensure we are better equipped for catastrophic events such as fires and floods, and enable us to continue to participate in research projects that protect koalas from the deadly disease chlamydia – the main cause of death for koalas in the Northern Rivers.”

The project, which is on public exbition, is supported by WWF’s Regenerate Australia program, and it is the primary funding organisation for the proposed upgrade.

A sick koala being treated at Lismore's Friends of the Koala hospital. Picture: Supplied

Friends of the Koala General Manager Silva Everaers said: “Due to the significant increase in construction costs, we are in great need of additional funding to make this project a reality.”

The organisation’s president Aliison Kelly said the facilities at Friends of the Koala were built in 1997 after fundraising by dedicated volunteers.

“The expansion will greatly enhance the capacity of our Koala Hospital and Community Education Centre, and improve the working conditions for our staff and over 170 volunteers,” she said.

Trees and native vegetation would not be removed to facilitate the development.