Rockhampton council endorse MoU for new koala feed plantation at prison

A new agreement between a Qld council and a jail could see inmates care for koala habitation while undertaking jail time.

Rockhampton Regional Council have endorsed an MoU between council and Queensland Corrective Services begin the establishment of a koala browse plantation at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

A new agreement between council and Queensland Corrective Services could soon mean inmates will help with the care of some of Rockhampton’s cutest residents while undertaking their own rehabilitation.

Rockhampton Regional Councillors voted unanimously to endorse the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Queensland Corrective Services and council to commence the establishment of a koala browse plantation at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

According to the planning report council has been in negotiations with Capricornia Correctional Centre to establish the plantation, which would grow feed for the Rockhampton Zoo’s koala and other animals.

According to the report, the zoo currently has “insufficient” eucalypt browse to feed their two resident koalas and have been looking for a suitable site, that is flood free, cleared and has access to water, for some time.

“Currently, browse is collected off site from wild trees across the region and is considered unsustainable and at considerable risk of lack of food during drought,” the report says.

“Current levels of wild eucalyptus suitable for the koalas is getting more and more difficult to find resulting in Zoo staff having to travel further and further to harvest.

“Should we enter drought conditions again, harvesting enough browse to feed the koalas will prove very challenging. Establishing an irrigated and easily maintained plantation will provide a sufficient long term resilient food source for our koalas.”

The report says the plantation would include about 3800 eucalyptus trees for koalas and 200 other trees of varying species to provide feed for other animals, such as the chimps, gibbons and birds.

The report says the plantation would also provide benefits for the prison including meaningful and rewarding work for prisoners with the potential for vocational skill qualifications, restorative justice by giving back to the community, and a more productive use of allocated land.

A spokesman for Queensland Corrective Services said similar programs were run at low custody farms at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre and Townsville Correctional Complex.

“The prisoners learn about planting, irrigation, and plantation maintenance,” the spokesman said.

“These programs provide meaningful and rewarding work for prisoners and the chance to give back to the community, which helps their rehabilitation.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of endorsing the MoU.

The agreement is yet to be endorsed by the Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner.

Planting of the eucalyptus trees is intended to begin in early 2024 to provide harvestable trees by 2027 or 2028.

Originally published as Rockhampton council endorse MoU for new koala feed plantation at prison