Koala Woman Says

There are over 1100 post-2010 records in this mid-north coast electorate, it is certainly one of the most important Koala populations in NSW. These Koalas aren’t increasing in number, they are being dispersed by logging. There are 300 records alone in and near Pine Creek State Forest, long considered to be the most crucial Koala population on the mid-north coast. When you add Pacific Highway upgrades and housing development to the equation the prospects for Koalas aren’t good even if more local Management Plan are added. They haven’t worked anywhere else and it would be a miracle if one worked here. Trouble is, by the time we find out it will be too late. Cowper gained some Koalas from Port Macquarie at the last electoral redistribution, but let’s not forget the fires in the summer of 2019 – 2020, over half of the bush in this electorate was burnt, with major impacts on the Koala populations in Collombatti and Tamban State Forests northwest of Kempsey, and Lake Innes.

There are smaller populations in the Coffs Harbour and Nambucca Heads areas and near Kempsey, and others in the hinterland at Lowanna, Eungai Creek, Girralong and Brierfield.

Will he Act or Axe?