Gold Coast’s shocking koala statistics caused by lack of conservation land

MORE conservation land must be locked up on the Gold Coast to stop the increasing number of koalas and native animals being “scraped off our roads” according to a city leader. Here’s why.

A koala at Dreamworld. Photo: Richard Gosling

A GOLD Coast City councillor has urged leaders to lock up more conservation land to stop the increasing number of koalas and native animals being “scraped off our roads”.

Councillor Peter Young said recent koala killings on the Gold Coast were a result of council not conserving enough land for the city’s wildlife.

“We live in a city that has the most diverse environment and the highest rate of growth in the whole of Australia and we are therefore required to do extraordinary things to protect these environmental values to contribute to our quality of life,” he said.

Dreamworld wildlife attendant Ashleigh Neal with a koala. Photo: Richard Gosling

The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital is on track to treat 400 more animals this year than in 2016. The number of koalas seen have spiked 20 per cent.

Twelve koalas have been killed on Tallebudgera Connection Rd alone this year, two in the past fortnight. And at least another 10 have been killed across the Gold Coast over the past two weeks.

Dreamworld yesterday announced it had been granted a special permit to take up to 25 male koalas from non-protected areas of the Coast for its breeding program.

“Dreamworld currently has the ability to take females from the wild, but with spring on the way, it’s important for the project to be able to capture males as well,” Environment Minister Steven Miles said.

A koala at Dreamworld. Photo: Richard Gosling

“The issuing of this permit is timely as 14 koalas are currently stranded in a Coomera development site and are essentially cut off from their habitat corridor … there are very real concerns that local koala populations will become unsustainable if steps are not taken to protect them and their habitat.”

Gold Coast City Council declined to reveal how much money is in a ratepayer environmental fund which has been set aside to buy land for conservation.

The Open Space Preservation Levy Land Acquisition Program spent more than $40 million on 4300 hectares of conservation land from 1999 to 2012, making up one third of the city’s green space.

However, council conceded it had not used the fund to buy any green space or recreational land since 2012.

It said the city’s green space had expanded by almost 10,000 hectares through development contributions, statutory environmental covenants and voluntary conservation agreements.

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital’s Dr Michael Pyne said the facility had treated 9600 animals last year and were on track to treat more than 10,000 this year.

“We would love more conservation land for our wildlife,” he said.

The NSW Government last week announced it had bought 100 hectares of conservation land in Pottsville to protect koalas.

Wildcare Australia Inc koala co-ordinator Karen Scott said protecting our environment should be one of the city’s main priorities and the council’s secrecy was “disappointing”.

A council spokesman said the draft Koala Conservation Plan will be considered by council in September 2017.

KOALA ADMISSIONS TO CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE HOSPITAL

2007- 25

2008-48

2009-150

2010-130

2011-175

2012-298

2013-240

2014-230

2015-302

2016-418

2017-At least 500