Walker Corporation joins WIRES to build koala rehab facility

A KOALA rehabilitation facility will be built in the Macarthur region to help the marsupials found injured or sick in the area.

Walker Corporation and WIRES will establish a koala rehabilitation facility in the Macarthur region. Picture: Josh Woning

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A KOALA rehabilitation facility will be built in the Macarthur region to help the marsupials found injured or sick in the area.

Walker Corporation, who have developments in Appin and the planned Wilton South East Precinct, have partnered with WIRES to establish the prerelease facility on land owned by the company.

A site for the facility has yet to be identified.

The rehabilitation facility will be secure and closed to the public, and will include a small,

powered work building for storage and observation and koala feed trees.

WIRES CEO Leanne Taylor said the facility would help animals which had already been treated by vets and needed to regain their strength before returning to the bush.

Koalas are one of the Macarthur region’s greatest treasures.

“In the facility WIRES volunteers will attend the animals through the rehabilitation process to ensure they are able to climb and are strong enough to look after themselves independently,” she said.

“We will continue to work with the Sydney University Camden Veterinary Clinic for the treatment of all koalas in care.

“At the moment we do not have a safe, quiet and secure space to allow animals to reacclimatise before they are released, and this is crucial for koalas.

“Every koala will be assessed by experienced, trained and licenced carers in consultation with vet specialists to give the all clear before release.”

Walker Corporation executive planner Gerry Beasley said when meeting with WIRES to

discuss their short to medium term requirements, secure land for a prerelease facility was at

the top of their wish list.

“Walker Corporation has made a long-term commitment to the Macarthur region and the

people who live there, and we are also committed to ensuring we are having a positive

impact on the environment, particularly on the region’s much-loved koala colony,” Mr Beasley

said.

“We understand the challenges facing the koala population and we are excited to be working

on solutions.”

“We look forward to working with WIRES to establish this important facility, which will ensure injured and sick koalas and joeys have a quiet, safe and natural environment to recover that is close to their own territory.”