Gold Coast's iconic koalas at risk of dog attacks, road trauma and chlamydia

Residents have been urged to do more to save the Gold Coast's koalas as new data shows the marsupials are being mauled by dogs and run down by vehicles at a worrying rate.

The Gold Coast’s endangered koalas are being mauled by dogs, run down by vehicles and infected with chlamydia at a worrying rate, new statistics show.

Mayor Tom Tate has urged city residents to do their bit to protect the iconic marsupials as their population dwindles across southeast Queensland.

Gold Coast City Council data shows there was 72 incidences of “road trauma” and 19 “dog incidents” in the city last year, while 333 koalas were admitted to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital – 124 were suffering from chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection.

Koalas face being attacked by dogs, hit by vehicles or being infected by chlamydia. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Wildcare and WIRES were tasked to 451 “koala rescue responses” in 2021.

Queensland University of Technology and the wildlife hospital reported 154 hospitalised koalas were vaccinated and released as part of the Chlamydia Vaccine Research Project, while 10 wild koalas were vaccinated, tracked and health checked.

The council recorded 881 koala sightings in 2021, with the highest number of sightings in Helensvale (166), Burleigh Heads (121) and Elanora (101).

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

Most sightings occurred at the southern end of the city.

Cr Tate said: “The key message remains – slow down, especially around known koala spots where signage notifies drivers.”

“I also urge every dog owner to keep their dogs restrained, in their yards with adequate fencing … not roaming our bushland or national parks,” he said.

The council has bought land specifically for wildlife corridors, and worked with private landowners to maintain koala corridors, among other measures, according to Cr Tate.

It was revealed the main koala road collision hot spots were Currumbin Waters and Currumbin Valley, Elanora, Tallebudgera and Burleigh Heads.

Gold Coast City Council says it is working on a range of measures to protect the Gold Coast's endangered koala population. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“Major roads within the northern suburbs also pose a risk, with further hot spots in Parkwood, Arundel, Coombabah as well as Helensvale,” Cr Tate said.

The council has been working on fauna exclusion fencing and underpasses, static wildlife signage, koala speed awareness devices and variable messaging signs.

A feasibility trial will be conducted for a koala crossing on Napper Rd.

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

New mitigation measures the council has been examining include more signage, vehicle calming devices, improved fencing and culverts, vegetation management, koala grids and koala ladders.

The council states anyone who finds a koala sick, injured, in danger or dead to phone Wildcare Australia at anytime on 07 5527 2444.

Massive bill for ratepayers after Koala buy-up fail

April 25: The council has failed in its first attempt of a compulsory buy-up of the biggest slice of koala land in the city’s north, leaving a costly court bill for ratepayers.

Judge Peter Davis in the Supreme Court has ruled that the application by the city to acquire the Greenridge land is “void and of no effect” and council must pay all legal costs to the land’s owners.

The council says it is yet to receive the bill and at this point unable to say what it’s next step will be.

Asked how much in costs will the council be paying from the first round of legals, a city spokesperson said: “This figure is not yet available.”

Judge Davis has suggested the parties meet to discuss resolving issues but a council spokesperson, when further asked about its legal plan and whether it would continue to acquire the land replied that it was “still considering its position”.

Picture Glenn Hampson

The Bulletin in an investigation in February revealed ratepayers faced a potential buy-up bill of $25m because council and the State Government had “botched” a land deal with the Melbourne-based BCI Group.

The Kornhauser family bought the 407ha site in the 1980s, and the parcel of land which is the size of a suburb on the Pimpama River was earmarked to become the next Sanctuary Cove.

The investigation on closed door negotiations found the council was left to negotiate with the BCI Group after the state government walked away from the deal.

Sources suggest the council then offered as little as $8m for land worth up to $32m before moving to acquire it. The prime “green” site could be used as required environmental “offset” for building the Coomera Connector from Nerang to Coomera.

In the judge’s findings in the Supreme Court, it was acknowledged there was no dispute that the legislation could provide for compulsory acquisition of the land.

But the developer in their objection maintained that in taking the land the council had not been successful in explaining how it was “value for money”.

At an objection hearing in December, the developer had argued that the taking of the land was inconsistent with the LGA because council had failed to consider viable alternatives which cost less.

A koala land proposal put forward by the owner in August 2018 was, in the court judgment, referred to as an “innovative approach” but not investigated by council.

In this proposal, 85 per cent of the land would have remained available with the other 15 per cent for a “koala friendly residential development”.

Map showing the critical corridors which need to be protected to save and protect koalas on the Gold Coast.

Judge Davis said it was “undesirable” for fresh proceedings to start unless the matters could be resolved.

Eliezer Kornhauser said his lawyers believe council would need to start the process again if it resolved to acquire the land compulsorily.

However, council also has a period within which to determine whether it wishes to appeal the decision.

“We would be surprised if council chooses to do so, but stranger things have happened,” Mr Kornhauser said.

“So what we have here is very simple. Council is wasting ratepayer money pursuing an unnecessary acquisition, further exacerbated by their poor process as highlighted by the court decision.

“My family does not wish to suffer the indignity of having this land taken from us compulsorily, and we will continue to fight to prevent this outcome.

“Especially because we know that council’s true reason for acquiring land — to once and for all prevent development — is completely unnecessary.”

Mr Kornhauser reaffirmed his family had indicated a willingness to sell the land for considerably less than what would be achieved in the open market, and both State and council had been told of that position.

“I believe, but it is nothing more than my opinion, that what is holding the State back from buying this land, is intransigence at the political level,” he said.

Gold Coast roads: Wildlife, koalas, victims of ignorant drivers

Coast koala habitat saved from development

Earlier: Gold Coast’s most important wildlife corridor will be protected after councillors voted to spend millions of dollars on a compulsory acquisition of prime development land.

Councillors at full council on Tuesday met behind closed doors at the Evandale Chamber to discuss a “confidential update on securing koala habitat”.

Council sources later confirmed the development site was at East Coomera, and that councillors had backed a recommendation for a compulsory buy-up of land earmarked for development. It will stop at least 1800 houses being built.

The marathon negotiations with the developer followed the release of the East Coomera Koala Population Study, commissioned by the council in 2017, which found the koala population remained viable but overcrowded due to shrinking habitat.

Consultants advised there was an urgent need to create new conservation areas before the situation worsened.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates told the Bulletin said there was unanimous support from councillors for securing the city’s koala habit in Coomera.

“We want to ensure that there is a viable habitat for the remaining population and the decision that we’ve taken regarding getting the land is a very important one for future generations,” she said.

Cr Gates confirmed the site was in East Coomera and covered 400 hectares. No further details were provided due to commercial-in-confidence.

“Council has been moving down this path for many years and we were provided with an updated valuation today. Regardless of the valuation, the city is committed to ensuring that the habitat remains viable for the population of koalas that remain,” she said.

Cr Gates said the area supported about 500 koalas, and some of those were suffering from stress as bushland was reduced in the fast growing urbanised area.

Asked if the long term negotiations had been finalised, Cr Gates said: “It has not been settled. We have just been more fully informed about where the process will go, and the costs that might be involved.”

The council would seek funding support from the State Government.

“The recommendation made today includes a section that clearly indicates our desire to partner with the State Government. We want to ensure the State and council is aligned in making certain that there is a viable habitat for the East Coomera koalas,” Cr Gates said.

The Biolink study more than three years ago had warned that unless land is reserved for the koalas “the East Coomera koala population will likely be lost”.

Council planning committee chairman Cameron Caldwell, at the time, said about 1150ha of land was required and council had already accumulated approximately 900ha.

The council had written to the State requesting their support along with a potential funding contribution for the acquisition of additional areas of koala habitat reserve.

An estimated 5900 koalas inhabit 41,000ha of preferred koala habitat in the city with East Coomera the biggest site under threat from urban growth. The Coast has lost 44,000ha of primary koala habitat ­between European settlement and 2017.

In June this year, council flagged that it intended the largest ever buy-up of wildlife corridors as it tracked down the hot spots for koala kills.

Ratepayers would pay an extra $2.50 each into an open space koala habitat charge that started at $1 a year in 2018.

About 40 sites had been identified and the program would provide $11m in the 2021-22 budget.

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