New South Wales Government buys 100 hectares of conservation land for koalas in Pottsville

THE koala population in Tweed-Brunswick has received a boost with the NSW Government buying 100 hectares of conservation land in Pottsville for their protection.

This cutie munching on some leaves. Photo: Kristy Muir

THE koala population in Tweed-Brunswick has received a boost with the NSW Government buying 100 hectares of conservation land in Pottsville for their protection.

The bushland is adjacent to Tweed Shire Council land which connects to Cudgen Nature Reserve at the northern end of the Koala Beach residential estate.

“This is massive win for our koala population and our local community,”

Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said yesterday.

KOALA CARNAGE OF COAST ROADS

An adorable koala. Photo: Kristy Muir

“This land will help rehabilitate and establish koala habitat to help secure the Tweed-Brunswick koala population.

The property sits within Tweed Shire Council’s Tweed Koala Plan of Management area and is part of a 14km corridor from Casuarina Beach in the north to Black Rocks in the south.

Pictured: Currumbin Wildlife Hospital's Dr Michael Pyne, Team Koala president Jenny Hayes, MP Geoff Provest, Minister for the Environment Gabrielle Upton and Tweed Shire Council Mayor Katie Milne.

PLANS TO HELP GOLD COAST KOALAS
Ms Upton said the NSW Government had started developing a whole-of-government koala strategy, as recommended by New South Wale’s chief scientist and engineer Professor Mary O’Kane AC.

“This strategy will complement the koala conservation work already being done under the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program,” Ms Upton said.

A pair of koalas chilling out. Photo: Kristy Muir

“Last year we also committed to investing $10 million over five years to acquire vital koala habitat — this investment is on top of the land purchase in Pottsville.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Northern NSW Ben Franklin said the NSW Government was committed to co-ordinating efforts to stabilise and ultimately increase the numbers of koalas across NSW.

CONCERN OVER COUNCIL’S LACK OF SPENDING

Team Koala, Friends of the Koala and Landcare members at the announcement yesterday.

“More than $1.8 million has already been invested in koala conservation across NSW through the Saving our Species program since 2012—13 with another $800 000 allocated from the 2017—18 budget,” Mr Franklin said.

David Oxenham from Tweed Shire Council, the Hon Ben Franklin MLC, Geoff Provest MP, Minister for the Environment the Hon Gabrielle Upton, Tweed Mayor Katie Milne, Tweed Councillor Chris Cherry.

Tweed-Brunswick’s koala population has received a boost with the NSW Government purchasing 100 hectares of koala habitat in Pottsville to help secure the population. Pictured: Geoff with members of Tweed’s Team Koala (far right is president Jenny Hayes)