Koala funding shock: how council was snubbed the government on land buy-up

The Gold Coast’s koala population in the fast growing north of the city is at a critical low. Council and the State Government were working on a plan. But what happened when the talk turned to funding?

A koala rescue on the Gold Coast.

THE city is taking out a $10 million loan to buy land critical to protecting the threatened koala population after being snubbed by the State Government.

Ratepayers will pay back the loan through a $3 levy after the Government only offered to provide $300,000 in various schemes to help koala management.

Both Environment Minister Leanne Enoch and State Development Minister Cameron Dick rejected a request for a joint funding agreement to buy land at Coomera, with Ms Enoch’s office telling the Bulletin there had been no formal approach from the council for a funding deal.

The suburban development around Coomera. Photo: Nearmap.

Councillors in August last year resolved that Mayor Tom Tate write to both ministers to “seek co-operation and support to jointly fund the acquisition of identified highest priority properties”.

After northern councillor William Owen-Jones was successful in having the letters from the ministers placed on public record to show ratepayers the Government’s position, the Bulletin today can reveal that:

* Ms Enoch responded to council CEO Dale Dickson, saying her department was providing a $5000 contribution towards the radio advertising component of its koala breeding season campaign. The Government was funding $45,000 for new transportable koala enclosures for the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation and gave $250,000 annually to the hospital.

* Mr Dick wrote to the Mayor saying: “I commend the council for taking an active approach to this issue by undertaking work to identify opportunities to protect the network of koala habitat, with the specific focus on the Coomera and Pimpama area.”

He assured Cr Tate the property that needed to be bought to protect 1150ha of koala habitat at eastern Coomera was protected under the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

An aerial view of Coomera.

Certain uses were prohibited including “subdivisions of lots below 100 hectares in size and most forms of residential development”.

Mr Dick said the property would not be needed as part of the urban footprint to accommodate population growth. About 170 koalas were at risk.

“I understand the council had the adequate capacity to accommodate its future urban growth within the existing urban footprint,” he wrote.

But Mr Dick in his letter made no offer or reference to the state helping with the future buy-up of land.

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Councillor William Owen-Jones was successful in exposing the State’s funding position. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Cr Owen-Jones told the Bulletin yesterday: “The acquisition of koala habitat would occur much faster if the state provided substantive funding.”

But a spokesperson for Ms Enoch said no formal request has been made from the council to the department about funding for acquisition of a particular parcel of land.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to protecting koalas and we are delivering on our commitment to address the decline in koala populations in southeast Queensland,” the spokesperson said.

“We are developing a long-term strategy to protect koalas. We have appointed a Koala Advisory Council to provide advice on the development and implementation of a new koala conservation strategy for Queensland.”

The spokesperson confirmed funding had been directed towards existing initiatives such as supporting the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.