Koala ‘hotspot’ to be bulldozed for $1.6bn QSAC Olympic stadium

Native forest home to endangered koalas would be bulldozed to make way for the state government’s controversial Olympic athletics stadium, and a Brisbane Labor councillor has added his voice to criticism of the move.

Significant native forest home to endangered koalas would be bulldozed to make way for the state government’s controversial Olympic athletics stadium.

Conservationists warn Premier Steven Miles’s plan to build a $1.6bn stadium at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre would put at risk the koala “hotspot” of Toohey Forest.

A Labor Brisbane City Councillor has also hit out at the QSAC plans.

Moorooka Ward Councillor Steve Griffiths on Friday turned to social media to express his concerns. “I do not support the destruction of 27ha of Toohey Forest bushland for the Olympics,” Mr Griffiths wrote.

“This land is designated koala habitat by the Queensland State Government and is 7km from Brisbane’s CBD.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he was concerned by the possible destruction of bushland inhabited by endangered koalas, describing it as a “legitimate issue”,

“We know Brisbane residents love their koalas and that Toohey Forest area has a good strong koala population that we need to protect,” he said.

Conservationists warn Premier Steven Miles’s planned $1.6bn QSAC upgrade would put Toohey Forest koalas at risk. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

An infrastructure review by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, which argued against the QSAC stadium, noted site constraints meant building transport and associated Games infrastructure would be “extremely challenging and costly”.

He warned facilitating the International Olympic Committee’s requirements meant native forest adjacent to the stadium would need to be bulldozed.

“The Griffith University campus could be used for athlete entry, however clearance of significant bushland would be needed to allow this to happen safely,” he said.

“Griffith University would need to be used for bus access, and as a result, bushland would need to be cleared and the pathway to the QSAC stadium widened.”

Wildlife carers and conservationists use Toohey Forest to release injured koalas which have been rehabilitated.

Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman called for the government to protect the area and said every tree logged would further endanger the once-booming koala population.

“Right now, koalas in south east Queensland are suffering a death by a thousand cuts, and we can’t afford to lose one more hectare of habitat to bulldozers,” he said.

“Toohey Forest is a known koala hotspot.

“This could be a real positive, with visitors getting a first-hand experience of our incredible nature, but that’s only possible if the proposed QSAC redevelopment doesn’t result in loss of koala habitat.”

Mr Copeman said younger male koalas were pushed away during breeding season, meaning every inch of bushland was critical.

While QSAC could put the koala population at risk, Mr Quirk’s alternative proposal was to build a $3.4bn stadium at the Victoria Park golf course.

Mr Copeman called for the koala to be made the 2032 Olympic Games mascot to force the state government into protecting it.

Some of the native forest surrounding the QSAC complex. No Byline Please.

“Bit by bit we’re losing our forests and we’re already below the amount of forest in southeast Queensland we need to keep the koala population healthy,” he said.

“Every little shaving just diminishes it.”

Griffith University’s biodiversity study acknowledged a strong koala population was prevalent in the protected native forest.

University Vice-Chancellor Carolyn Evans said she was “not in a position” to speak about what bushland on the university’s land might be bulldozed to make way for the QSAC development, but said the “upside” would be introducing foreign guests to native forest and wildlife.

Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace said it was not known how much bushland would be cleared.

QSAC is the Mile government’s venue of choice for the athletics.

“The full scope of works and construction dates for the QSAC upgrades will be determined through a detailed business case and we will work closely with stakeholders including environmental and community groups during this process which can begin now Cabinet has made its decision,” she said.

“It’s worth noting that our government’s South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy includes the strongest koala protections Queensland has ever seen.”

Toohey Forest Wildlife group member Brad Lambert said the site had “great environmental significance” and declared any established bushland above 1ha was critical.

“There are hundred year-plus scribbly gums, which would probably have squirrel gliders living in them,” he said.

“It’s simple maths, less critical core koala habitat means fewer koalas.

“When it’s gone it doesn’t come back, you can’t offset 150-year-old scribbly gums.”

He said the native value of Victoria Park golf course was “not even close” to Toohey Forest – which allowed male koalas to stray to its boundary during breeding season.

“If there’s no place for them to go, even to rest for a moment – they’ll keep going and eventually be hit by a car or killed by a dog,” he said.

Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts in August used a Senate inquiry into the 2032 Games to ask Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll to share the IOC’s “view on sacrificing animals for the sake of a one-off games?”

Mr Roberts was referring to concerns raised over the Redlands Whitewater Centre.

“I believe that’s being managed so there’s not a sacrifice of animals occurring,” Mr Carroll said.

Originally published as Koala ‘hotspot’ to be bulldozed for $1.6bn QSAC Olympic stadium