Liverpool Council to join other southwest councils to save koalas

Liverpool Council will join neighbouring councils at a summit on how to protect koala colonies in southwest Sydney.

Liverpool councilor Karress Rhodes wants councils in southwest Sydney to collaborate on a regional plan to save its koala colonies.

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Liverpool Council will join neighbouring councils at a summit on how to protect koala colonies in southwest Sydney.

The council resolved at its monthly meeting last week to support and participate in the Conserving the Koalas of South Western Sydney summit, established by Wollondilly Council.

The summit, which is expected to be held by the end of the year, aims to bring together experts, government agencies and the community to develop a koala conservation plan for the southwest.

Koalas in the Georges River corridors are under threat from loss of habitat and road fatalities. Picture: Calum Robertson

It follows at least nine koala road deaths in the Macarthur region, Holsworthy and Moorebank.

Liverpool councillor Karress Rhodes wants more collaboration between local government agencies to tackle the issue.

“A greater collaboration between all government departments and the community is needed to protect Australia’s last disease free koala colony,” Cr Rhodes.

Koalas in the Georges River corridor are known to travel through Appin, Campbelltown, Liverpool and the Sutherland Shire.

Cr Rhodes urged Liverpool Council to do its part and work with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the RMS and the Australian Army to protect habitat and provide safe passage for koalas through bushland with fencing and wildlife underpasses and overpasses.

“Liverpool Council needs to take a proactive stance, support the summit, work collaboratively with our neighbouring LGAs … so that a regional, sustainable southwest Sydney koala solution may be implemented,” Cr Rhodes said.

Last month the Leader reported the Office of Environment and Heritage was undertaking a survey of koalas in the Campbelltown LGA including Holsworthy Barracks, with future survey work to be done in Moorebank.

Wildlife rescuer Ricardo Lonza said koala numbers were not getting any higher in the southwest.

“We know the koalas are here. To have an estimate of numbers would be good but what we need is protection of koalas,” he said.