
Koala Woman Says
Koalas were widespread up until about 2000 but have all but disappeared from the northern half of the electorate. with only less than 10 sightings in the last 4 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 – railways like flat ground and so do Koalas.
Anyway, what has happened to the Blair Koalas? Logging of State Forests in the north around Jimna 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 to the south of Ipswich increasing over the last 20 years, for example the huge Springfield Central and Ripley projects which cover 7,500 hectares. That is a lot of Koala habitat gone, and then, of course, cars will produce further impacts. 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 Endangered under the EPBC Act. Most Queensland Councils try to ignore this inconvenience. Any Koalas near these areas will be gone within the next few years.
There is some better news. Koalas are still fairly common around Esk, Wivenhoe Dam and Coominya. Revegetation projects around Wivenhoe Dam are increasing the amount of habitat, but the Brisbane Valley Highway continues to be a major cause of Koala mortality.
Member for Blair
The Hon Shayne Neumann MP
Australian Labor Party
Shayne.Neumann.MP@aph.gov.au
PO Box 5117 Brassall
QLD 4305
Will he Act or Axe?


Koala Numbers
Estimated AKF Koala Population: 200-400
Estimated Koala Habitat left: 30.5%
Estimated Federal Government Population: No data. No opinion.
Listed as endangered under the EPBC Act (Feb 2022)