REVEALED: How the Gold Coast is about to save its most critical koala population

The largest and arguably most important private slice of koala habitat in the north of the city is about to be secured - here’s how.

THE largest and arguably most important private slice of koala habitat in the north of the city is about to be secured in a forced buy-up from private owners.

Councillors at a governance committee meeting have unanimously backed a report to secure the 407ha parcel of land off Yawalpah Road, at Pimpama which would require a compulsory acquisition.

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The owners of the “Greenridge” land have until Friday to comment on the findings of a delegate report which recommends the acquisition.

Council is yet to get a response, and if a majority of councillors at full council on Tuesday back the governance committee recommendation, council CEO Dale Dickson will begin negotiating the compensation claim.

The amount of money has not been discussed publicly but funds are available from the $10.8 million raised by the koala levy.

The three land owners had told the delegate at the objection hearing that their land contained large cleared areas classified as “lower value rehabilitation” and generally not suitable for koalas.

They also argued that the land was bisected by a road and had a marine environment not suitable for koalas.

But the council, in its response said: “The protected koala habit network is not required to be all koala habitat. Protection of the entire area is required to minimise threatening processes, improve the reserve’s edge to area ratio and consolidate existing habitat.

“Much of the land around the (nearby) Pimpama Sewerage Treatment Plan has been planted and managed as koala habitat. Council’s proposal to protect and restore koala habitat will result in an increase in habitat connectivity surrounding the sewerage treatment plant.”

Officers under questioning by Councillor Peter Young confirmed the habitat was of the “highest ecological value” and remained so since identified by council several years ago.

Committee chair William Owen-Jones, who sees the purchase as showcasing to critics the council’s sound environmental record on protecting the threatened species, asked about the importance of buying the whole site.

An officer said it was critical to secure a circular parcel of land which was not fragmented.

“Koalas will move through areas of not necessarily identified as koala habitat,’ the officer said, adding it was important to have uninterrupted pathways for the species.

Both northern-based councillors, Deputy Mayor Donna Gates and new councillor Mark Hammel, strongly supported the move which they believe will be backed by residents.

The council since 2017 has been attempting to restore the East Coomera koala population under threat from development with the aim to save more than 170 koalas.