Gold Coast Koala conservation: Almost half of 260 koalas relocated from Coomera have died

QUESTIONS have been raised over the Government’s koala protection strategy after it was revealed that nearly half of the koalas moved from a fast growing northern Gold Coast suburb have died.

ALMOST half of the 260 koalas relocated from Coomera to protect them from development in the fast growing northern Gold Coast suburbs have died, State Parliament has been told.

Opposition environment spokesman and Broadwater MP David Crisafulli has obtained the details after asking questions about a koala preservation strategy at an Estimates hearing.

Environment and Heritage Protection Department acting deputy director general Nick Weinhert was asked about the relocation of 260 koalas from bushland near the Coomera Town Centre between 2008 and 2014.

Queensland Member for Broadwater David Crisafulli leaving the Estimates hearing at Parliament House. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

NORTHERN GOLD COAST KOALAS DYING DUE TO INACTION FROM POLITICIANS

Mr Weinhert told Mr Crisafulli: “The Coomera translocation process to which you referred did occur under a scientific purposes permit and it was assessed in terms of its results.

“The policy itself, as the minister (Leeanne Enoch) has indicated, is to be the subject of review on the advice of the Koala Expert Panel.

“The panel has recommended that translocation ought to be considered as a tool for population management but cautioned that it ought not take the place of a proper assessment process in terms of development assessment.”

Mr Crisafulli: Has there been an assessment of how many of those koalas have survived and the success of the project?

Mr Weinert: In relation to that project, the mortality rate for the koalas that were relocated was 42 per cent. This compares to 35 per cent of koalas at that recipient site — so the expected rate under normal circumstances — and 50 per cent at the site from which they were taken. There is not a very significant variation between either the site of origin or the recipient site for the translocated population.”

A koala at Dreamworld’s koala breeding program. Others in the wild at Coomera are dying. P Photo by Richard Gosling.

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Outside the Parliament, Mr Crisafulli today told the Bulletin he was concerned about the Government’s approach to the problem.

“At some stage the State Government has got to make a decision and stop kicking this problem down the road,” he said.

“You can set up all the advisory panels and workshopping sessions you like but that’s not going to find the right balance between development and environmental protection until a decision is taken.

“Not a single koala has ever been saved by a pile of paperwork sitting on a politicians’ desk waiting for a decision.”

Ms Enoch, the Environment Minister, responding to Mr Crisafulli at Estimates said an expert panel had produced a report with recommendations about relocation policies.

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Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch answers questions at Budget Estimates. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

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“This review has commenced. We are working with local conservation groups and the City of Gold Coast, in particular, to consider some specific approaches to koala conservation in the Coomera area,” she said.

“Obviously, the recommendations from the expert panel have been taken very seriously. That is why we have provided a government response to that and why we are establishing the advisory council and working on the numerous recommendation they made.”

Mayor Tom Tate said he was equally disappointed by the number of koala deaths, revealed Wednesday.

“As Gold Coasters, we are one on this, any demise of any koala is very sad,” the Mayor said.

“So they need to review it to get that better.”

Cr Tate said the council has worked hard to protect koalas on the Gold Coast.

“We are leading by example, we are the only council to create a koala fund whether it be acquiring another block of land for koalas, whether it be building fences so koalas do not cross the road and get attacked by dogs,” he said.

“When you add all those things up and our funding of the koala hospital, the Gold Coast would be the number one protector in Australia.”

University of Queensland Professor and Koala expert Frank Carrick said the failed translocation program was akin to “shifting deck chairs on the Titanic”.

“The bottom line is this, we can only solve the problem of koala populations by saving the koala habitats,” he said.

“If a habitat is good for koalas it is highly likely there would already be plenty of animals there, adding more adds pressure on the population.

“If you look at the record of translocation you have to ask why would anyone in their right mind want to do it.

“It was a disaster in South Australia, similarly in Victoria, why would you want to repeat someone else’s mistake?

“We are looking at the prospect of the koala becoming locally extinct on the Gold Coast,” he said.