Central Coast koala population: Recent sightings prompt council to conduct region-wide survey
Seven years ago, a koala survey on the Central Coast failed to record one sighting. There are hopes a 2020 survey may tell another story with recent sightings in Yarramalong and Kulnura.
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A koala survey will be conducted across the Central Coast for the first time in seven years.
Recent sightings around Yarramalong and Kulnura have prompted Central Coast Council to act, with an ecological survey planned this year.
A council spokeswoman said the State Government’s Local Land Services were currently doing phone and postal surveys to record any sighting of koalas.
“This will be followed by Council’s ecological survey during spring, when male koalas are calling,” she said.
“Council will undertake ground observations using song metre audio recorders.”
“In 2012/13 the former Gosford City Council undertook a comprehensive survey but only within the identified Coastal Open Space System (COSS) lands however no Koala sightings were recorded at this time.”
In January, the Express revealed there had been confirmed sightings of koalas around Cedar Brush Creek in Yarramalong. Yarramalong resident Mark Davis has captured images of koalas at his Yarramalong property as recently as October 2019.
This was shortly followed by another sighting on the roadside at George Downes Dr in Kulnura on January 11.
News of the survey has been welcomed by Coast Environmental Alliance (CEA) founder Jake Cassar.
“The wheels are certainly starting to turn, and not a moment too soon,” Mr Cassar said.
“Between Central Coast Council’s recent proposal to undertake large-scale koala surveys, the federally funded Pearl Beach Koala translocation project and the State Government’s new Koala Habitat Protection Act, the future for koalas isn’t looking so dim.”
Mr Cassar said there had been 76 officially registered sightings of koalas on the Central Coast since 2000 in Gosford, Picketts Valley, Watagans, Bucketty, Mangrove Mountain and Yarramalong.
He said the CEA was pushing for a moratorium on all development projects, including the Wallarah 2 Coal Mine, within a 10km radius of koala habitat until independent studies of koala colonies have been undertaken.
They are planning a family-friendly rally on March 13 at 6pm outside council’s Gosford building.
“The aim of our rally is to gain intergovernmental support to get the best possible outcome for our koalas,” Mr Cassar said.
“We need urgent and decisive action to ensure that our iconic Koalas are not lost forever.”