Northern Gold Coast koalas dying due to inaction from politicians

UP to three koalas a day are being injured or killed as they desperately try to find new habitat after being pushed out by the city’s booming development. But politicians and developers continue to dither while our koala population rapidly dies out.

CURRUMBIN Wildlife Hospital is treating up to three koalas a day while key stakeholders dither on who is responsible for the relocation of one of the Coast’s largest habitats.

The number of injured ­koalas on operating tables at the hospital exploded 25 per cent in September and ­conservationists say city and state leaders are risking a wipe-out unless they act fast to save the furry critters.

KOALA CARNAGE ON GOLD COAST ROADS

Gummy the blue eyed koala, hit by a car in Coomera.

Development in the city’s fast-growing northern ­suburbs, particularly Coomera, is the biggest concern.

In 2007, up to 500 koalas shared about 3640ha area in the area. Today, that koala population has estimated to have dropped to below 200. More than a third of koala habitat has been cleared to make way for the $1 billion Coomera Town Centre and other housing developments in the area.

Doctor Michael Pyne, a senior vet at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Hospital, said he treated 83 koalas in September — 20 more than a “normal” month — many of them from development sites like the one around the Coomera Town Centre.

“When an animal has a home range, where it’s lived all its life, and you destroy it you can’t expect it to just move next door and be happy. It’s not always the case. Sometimes they adjust, and sometimes they just don’t.

SHOCKING GOLD COAST KOALA STATISTICS

An iconic shot of a Pimpama koala with nowhere to go after all the trees were cut down around him. Photo: Wildcare Australia

“Relocating koalas isn’t as simple as picking them up and moving them. It is much more complex, and proper ­assessment and relocation plans need to be made.”

Coomera Conservation Group co-founder Karina Waterman said koalas were dying every week and authorities needed to act fast before they were gone.

“I’ve witnessed 10 rescues, many of whom didn’t survive. The most recent one I saw was (last) Friday night. A beautiful little girl, Gummy, passed away but there are many, many more.

A koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: Kristy Muir

“The time frame is urgent; every week we lose multiple koalas,” she said.

“With new sites being cleared weekly there is simply less and less habitat for them to move into, and those patches left become further and further apart, until in some cases there is nothing left for them at all.

“We have a real and pressing koala emergency.”

An adorable koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: Kristy Muir

Ms Waterman, who said ­koalas faced “likely extinction” in the next 10 years, said a minimum 1500ha was needed for conservation in Coomera.

Last month, the Gold Coast Bulletin ­reported council was planning a “Borobi Reserve” at Coomera after councillors voted unanimously to seek state support to arrest the crisis.

A council spokeswoman yesterday confirmed Mayor Tom Tate had written to ­Environment Minister ­Steven Miles about the issue.

Commonwealth Games mascot Borobi. Picture: Richard Gosling.

The council would not comment on the outcome of a meeting on October 11, saying only that city hall would continue to “progress matters”.

Councillor Peter Young, a staunch supporter of wildlife conservation, said he did not know when a council-commissioned report into koala populations would be released.

Pictured is one of many koalas that have been hit and killed on the Gold Coast. Picture: Wildcare Australia Inc/Facebook.

“I understand the mayor has met with people at the (environment) department ... but information has not been provided to me by anyone at the council,” Cr Young said.

In August, the State ­Government gave Dreamworld a special permit to ­expand its koala captive breeding ­program in time for the spring breeding season.

The permit allowed Dreamworld to collect male koalas from non-protected areas.

Dreamworld general ­manager of life science and director of the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation, Al Mucci, said two koalas had been removed from a Stockland development site.