Koala Woman Says

Koalas were widespread up until about 2000 but they seem to have disappeared between Kilcoy and the north, with only a couple of sightings in the last 20 years. There are a few around Esk and Marburg. Recent records are in the Fernvale and Rosewood – Peak Crossing areas, and this is where the Southern Freight Corridor will go. It’s the nature of things that this Corridor goes through the best Koala habitat… 

Anyway, what has happened to the Blair Koalas? Logging of State Forests in the north will certainly have had a major impact and habitat loss over many years of farming will have made it easier for wild dogs to attack Koalas. With increased development over the last 20 years, for example the huge Springfield Central, cars have made further impacts and the Brisbane Valley Highway has claimed many Koalas. This electorate is interesting in that it covers much the same area as Somerset Regional Council who are actually aware that the Koala has a listing as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act. Most Queensland Councils try to ignore this inconvenience. Further south in the City of Ipswich a huge development area – the Ripley Valley – has been approved; any Koalas there will be gone in a few years.

Will he Act or Axe?