Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera

Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera

Planning & Environment Directorate July 2014 to June 2018

Version 5 – September 2014 Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera Page 2 of 51

Authorship Lead author: John Callaghan Koala Conservation Project Manager Contributing authors: Alicia Bell

Conservation Research Officer Kathy Friebe Senior Business Planning & Improvement Officer Mark Ayers Conservation Officer Kellie Pforr Conservation Research Assistant

Tina Niblock Conservation Research Assistant Kimberley Edwards Conservation Research Assistant Mikalah Malone Conservation Officer Althena Davidson

Supervising Environmental Planner Project sponsor: Kim Mahoney Manager City Planning Business owner: Gail Connolly Director Planning & Environment Version history Version Comments/Change Changed by &

date Reviewed by & date

1 Peter Owen JC 20/11/13

2 Address internal stakeholder review comments on draft KCP

JC 11/02/14

3 Address further comments from Manager, Executive Coordinator and Coordinator

JC + AB 10/03/14

4 External editorial advice JC 23/05/14

5 Address further comments from Executive Coordinator and update to reflect new State legislation and policy

JC 10/07/14 & 19/09/14


Distribution list Name Title Directorate Branch

Althena Davidson A/Coordinator EP PE CP

Huxley Lawler Executive Coordinator Environment

PE CP

Kim Mahoney Manager City Planning PE CP

Reference documents Title and authorship Authors Report Date

Conserving koalas in the Coomera-Pimpama Koala Habitat Area: a view to the future

Biolink ecological consultants. March 2007

Koala habitat and population assessment for Gold Coast City

Dr Stephen Phillips, Marama Hopkins and John Callaghan. Biolink ecological consultants.

August 2007

Burleigh Heads koala assessment and city-wide monitoring advice

Ecosure August 2013

Gold Coast City-wide Koala and Habitat Monitoring Report

Ecosure May 2014

Koala genetic analysis - East Coomera and Lower Beechmont Conservation Area

Associate Professor Jennifer Seddon. University of Queensland.

June 2014

Endorsement Name Title Signature Date

Althena Davidson A/Coordinator EP

Huxley Lawler Executive Coordinator Environment

Kim Mahoney Manager City Planning

Gail Connolly Director PE


Table of contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Background ........................................................................................................................................... 5

PART A – THE KOALA CONSERVATION PLAN ......................................................................................... 6

1. Purpose ....................................................................................................................................... 6

2. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 6

3. Background to the Plan ............................................................................................................... 6

4. Objectives of the Koala Conservation Plan ................................................................................. 8

5. The East Coomera Koala Conservation Project ......................................................................... 8

PART B – CONSERVATION ACTIONS ....................................................................................................... 10

Performance Indicators ....................................................................................................................... 10

B1 Habitat Conservation ........................................................................................................................ 10

B2 Habitat Restoration ........................................................................................................................... 13

B3 Traffic Management ........................................................................................................................... 15

B4 Dog Management ............................................................................................................................... 17

B5 Feral Animal Management ................................................................................................................ 19

B6 Bushfires ............................................................................................................................................ 19

B7 Koala Welfare ..................................................................................................................................... 20

B8 Community Education and Awareness ........................................................................................... 21

B9 Funding .............................................................................................................................................. 22

B10 Research ............................................................................................................................................ 23

B11 Monitoring .......................................................................................................................................... 24

B12 Implementation Review..................................................................................................................... 25

PART C – SUPPORTING RESEARCH ........................................................................................................ 26

C1 Koala Habitat and Population Status .............................................................................................. 26

C2 Koala Health Assessment ................................................................................................................ 35

C3 Habitat Conservation ........................................................................................................................ 37

C4 Dog Management ............................................................................................................................... 38

Appendix 1: Actions table ........................................................................................................................... 41

Appendix 2: Legislation and policy relevant to koala habitat conservation ......................................... 46

Appendix 3: Guidelines for prioritising habitat areas for protection ..................................................... 49

Appendix 4: References .............................................................................................................................. 50

Acknowledgements The project would not have been possible without the support, input and guidance provided by the City of Gold Coast Councillors and staff. Topdeck Communications provided editorial advice.


Executive Summary The East Coomera Koala Conservation Project is a City of Gold Coast initiative that will address koala conservation issues as the new Coomera Town Centre is developed. This Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera is a deliverable of the Conservation Project which concluded 30 June 2014. The Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera is critical to the ongoing sustainability of the koala population and has identified a range of important actions to help mitigate threats and to improve prospects for the long-term survival of the local koala population. The Plan addresses requirements for: habitat conservation and restoration management of traffic and dogs bushfire planning koala health and welfare community education research and monitoring.

The Plan identifies responsibilities for implementation and assigns an initial priority for each action. Its successful implementation will require human resources and funding for community education and awareness, traffic management, a potential Chlamydia vaccine trial and population monitoring. The Plan has been funded by Council in the 2014/15 budget and will be implemented over four years, followed by a comprehensive review. Its success will depend on the ongoing support and involvement of the City of Gold Coast, Wildlife Australia and the local community.

Background East Coomera is identified in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 as a future Major Regional Activity Centre and has been identified for major urban expansion at State and local levels since the 1980s. However, research undertaken for the City in 2006-07 found that the East Coomera-Pimpama area supports one of the Gold Coast’s largest koala populations. With development of a Town Centre at Coomera ultimately expected to result in significant areas of koala habitat being cleared or fragmented and a substantial portion of the local koala population being displaced, the City of Gold Coast resolved to lead a proactive response. Given the intensity of the planned urban development, the only viable option to protect the most at-risk koalas involved detailed monitoring and relocation to other secure habitat areas in the Gold Coast hinterland. A total of 180 koalas were relocated by the City under the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project between late 2009 and mid-2013. When the new urban area is fully developed, approximately 170 koalas are expected to remain within conservation reserves and rural areas beyond the urban footprint at East Coomera-Pimpama. The Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera will direct the ongoing protection and management of the remaining koala population at East Coomera. The koala habitat remaining in the project area beyond the urban footprint can sustain a local koala population, so long as monitoring continues and threats associated with incremental habitat loss and fragmentation, domestic and wild dogs, traffic, bushfire, disease and genetic isolation are effectively managed. In-situ monitoring has yielded around 3,000 separate radio-tracking observations of koalas in the East Coomera area over the past four years and has recorded koalas using over 40 different tree species. The research has confirmed the key importance of five eucalypt species for koalas in the project area including forest red gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, grey ironbark E. siderophloia, tallowwood E. microcorys, swamp mahogany E. robusta and small-fruited grey gum E. propinqua. Of the non-eucalypts, broad-leaved paperbark Melaleuca quinquenervia, pink bloodwood Corymbia intermedia, brush box Lophostemon confertus and swamp box L. suaveolens stood out as being of most importance to koalas.


PART A – THE KOALA CONSERVATION PLAN

1. Purpose The Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera provides for the ongoing survival of the East Coomera koala population. It is underpinned by extensive research into the distribution, ecology, health and genetics of the local koala population; assessment of habitat quality; and evaluation of key threats and potential mitigation measures. Crucial to the Plan’s success is ongoing engagement with the local community to encourage reporting of koala sightings and involvement in koala conservation initiatives.

2. Introduction Koala conservation is recognised as a matter of national importance within Commonwealth and State Government legislation and policy. Koalas were listed by the State Government as a threatened species in the vulnerable category throughout the South East Queensland (SEQ) Bioregion in 2004 in light of evidence and modelling of dramatic declines. Koala populations in SEQ are nationally significant, with remaining populations seriously declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation and other threatening processes. State Government koala monitoring programs estimated declines in the Koala Coast region of Redland Shire, Logan City and Brisbane City of approximately 26 per cent from 1996-99 to 2005-06, with a further 50 per cent decline by 2008 and an overall downward trend of 68 per cent from 1996-99 to 2010. In May 2012, koala populations throughout Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory were listed as Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This followed advice from a Senate Inquiry and the Federal Threatened Species Scientific Committee that indicated the koala faces stark conservation challenges across much of its distribution, with the most serious declines reported for Queensland and New South Wales populations.

3. Background to the Plan East Coomera (referred to as the project area; see Figure A1.1) is identified in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 (the SEQ Regional Plan) as a future Major Regional Activity Centre. It has been flagged for major urban expansion at State and local levels since the 1980s. The SEQ Regional Plan provides the statutory framework for how future development can proceed while protecting the region’s natural assets. As part of this, Regional Policy 2.2 (Koala Conservation) recognises the need to protect, manage and achieve net gains in bushland koala habitat and to manage conflict with urban development. Further, State Planning Policy July 2014 makes provision to consider matters of national environmental significance (such as the koala) and state environmental significance (including facilitating a net gain in koala bushland habitat in the SEQ region) when making or amending a planning scheme or designating land for community infrastructure. Research undertaken for the City of Gold Coast in 2006-07 found that the East Coomera area supported one of the city’s largest koala populations: approximately 500 koalas across 3,640 hectares, with over 900 hectares of this land overlapping with the planned new Coomera Town Centre and surrounding urban area. With intense urban development planned, the most at-risk koalas were monitored and located to other secure habitat areas in the Gold Coast hinterland. A total of 180 koalas were relocated by the City in conjunction with the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project between late 2009 and mid-2013. Once the new urban area is fully developed, approximately 170 koalas are expected to remain within conservation reserves and rural areas beyond the urban footprint at East Coomera-Pimpama. The Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera will direct the ongoing protection and management of this remaining koala population.



Given these land use conflicts, the City of Gold Coast is leading the response to balance the development of Coomera as a Major Regional Activity Centre with the need to protect koalas, including those that remain in areas adjacent to the intensively urbanised environment. The challenges posed by this dilemma called for a multifaceted approach to support both short-term protection and long-term conservation of koalas in the East Coomera area. A crucial component of the koala conservation response by the City of Gold Coast entails the preparation and implementation of this Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera to address: habitat loss or fragmentation management of threats associated with traffic, domestic dogs, feral animals, bushfires, and disease potential inbreeding and genetic isolation ongoing community education and awareness, koala welfare, research, monitoring, evaluation and review.

The koala habitat remaining in the project area beyond the urban footprint can potentially sustain a local koala population, so long as threats associated with incremental habitat loss and fragmentation, domestic and wild dogs, traffic, bushfire, disease and genetic isolation are effectively managed.

4. Objectives of the Koala Conservation Plan The objectives of this conservation plan are to:

identify the principal threats to koalas and koala habitat in the project area provide for long-term survival of the local koala population by developing and implementing measures to

effectively address threats develop effective public awareness, engagement and education programs concerning local koala

conservation issues provide for effective implementation, monitoring and review of the Koala Conservation Plan.

5. The East Coomera Koala Conservation Project The East Coomera Koala Conservation Project was initiated by the City of the Gold Coast in 2008 to reduce the risk to koalas in conjunction with the new East Coomera urban area. The Project also formulates an achievable plan to conserve the remaining local koala population. The Project has: undertaken detailed koala monitoring collected essential information on the local koala population liaised with landowners and the development industry installed new koala road crossing signs and threshold treatments at key locations investigated a range of potential conservation measures.

Key tasks have included: surveys of koalas and analysis of koala records for the project area assessment of koala habitat quality and habitat use investigation of key threats to koala survival and evaluation of potential mitigation measures establishment of health and genetic profiles for the local koala population koala capture and monitoring using radio-tracking and relocation of koalas at most risk as a result of approved development activities preparation of the Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera.

Koala monitoring and relocation Since September 2009, the City has captured and relocated koalas from over 30 new development sites in East Coomera, as well as locations of imminent danger along busy roads. The in-situ monitoring program for East Coomera has involved 100 koalas, of which 63 were subsequently incorporated into the relocation groups. In accordance with State Government permits, approvals and the project design, each koala that entered the monitoring and relocation program has undergone a detailed health examination. Koalas were treated where necessary for any detected illness by veterinary staff at Australian Zoo Wildlife Hospital or Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital. The Project has involved koala disease research collaborations with the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland. Upon relocation or release in-situ, each koala was fitted with a radio-tracking collar and monitored regularly. At each monitoring point, data was collected on the precise


location of the koala, the tree being used and the koala’s behaviour and demeanour. This information has allowed for detailed analysis of tree species use, home ranging behaviour and other aspects of koala ecology and biology that will be crucial for future strategic planning. The monitoring and relocation program was undertaken in accordance with Animal Ethics Committee approvals (CA 2008/06/273 and CA 2011/06/519) and corresponding Scientific Purposes Permits (WISP 05591008 and WISP 13423213) issued by the State Government. Chlamydia research The National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy 2009-2014 acknowledges the need for additional funding for koala disease research. The 2011 Federal Senate Environment and Communications Reference Committee reported that the cumulative impact of disease, combined with other threats such as habitat degradation, leads to less resilient koala populations and reduces the potential for future recovery. Common diseases detected amongst koalas from the Project include cystitis, conjunctivitis, reproductive tract infections, renal disease, anaemia and bacterial infections.

Collaboration with QUT on koala Chlamydia vaccine project Chlamydia is one of the most critical threats to koala populations in the wild, particularly for koalas in SEQ and northern NSW. Chlamydia causes ocular infections that can progress to significant loss of vision or blindness, urogenital infections in both sexes and infertility amongst females. The City of Gold Coast is an Industry Partner in an approved Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project (LP09 90147) titled “Development of an anti-Chlamydia vaccine for the koala”, led by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). This work has significant implications for future management and recovery planning for threatened wild populations; provides an opportunity to establish levels of Chlamydial infection, as well as the species and strains of Chlamydia present among koalas at East Coomera, Lower Beechmont, Wongawallan and Elanora-Currumbin Waters; and contributes to cutting-edge research. The results from QUT koala Chlamydia vaccine trials undertaken on koalas in care at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital were encouraging and the vaccine is now being trialled on members of a koala population in the wild. The project could also potentially aid researchers in the future development of Chlamydia vaccines for humans. Of the koalas from the East Coomera area that were examined for the Project, around 40 per cent had some clinical signs of illness or disease ranging from conjunctivitis, cystitis, reproductive tract disease, nephritis, kidney disease, gingivitis, gastro-intestinal candidiasis, poor body condition, bacterial infection, toxaemia/septicaemia, anaemia and bone marrow disease. The health assessments have raised serious concerns regarding the overall health of the local koala population, particularly in relation to chlamydial infection. Twenty-one per cent (n = 45) of the examined koalas from East Coomera tested positive for Chlamydia from one or more of the swab sites on their initial health examination.


PART B – CONSERVATION ACTIONS The Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera details actions under: habitat conservation habitat restoration traffic management dog management feral animal management bushfire koala welfare community education and awareness funding research monitoring.

Actions will be implemented from June 2014 to June 2018, followed by a comprehensive review and identification of recommended further actions (where necessary).

Performance Indicators The following performance indicators are designed to evaluate overall success of the Koala Conservation Plan:

1. The overall area (hectares) of preferred koala habitat and habitat linkages outside the urban footprint within the project area is maintained or enhanced.

2. An aspirational minimum of two hectares per year is secured for delivery of koala habitat offsets in areas identified as high priority for koala habitat restoration within the project area, where offsets are required in accordance with the provisions of the EPBC Act, or State or Local Government offset policies. Offsets may be delivered on public or private land holdings and could include assisted restoration as well as revegetation programs.

3. Community koala sighting reports continue for areas fringing the urban footprint. 4. Annual koala population assessments undertaken at designated monitoring sites indicate that the

remaining population is stable or increasing within four years from adoption of the Koala Conservation Plan.

In addition to these indicators, the Koala Conservation Plan will be assessed against implementation of each of the conservation actions.

B1 Habitat Conservation Habitat loss and degradation has devastating effects on koalas and other native fauna species. As well as potential death or injury, habitat loss is likely to increase pressures on adjacent habitat as the remaining animals are confined to smaller areas, with individuals forced to live under sub-optimal conditions. Habitat loss includes the removal of individual habitat trees on private property, particularly trees identified as Preferred Koala Tree Species. The removal of individual habitat trees, together with the cumulative effects of gradual loss of key resources, can contribute to the decline of a local koala population. An effective approach to conserve koala habitat must combine a range of regulatory (legislative) and incentives-based conservation measures, together with effective community education and awareness programs. National koala conservation status The koala is listed as Vulnerable throughout Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory under the EPBC Act.


National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy 2009-2014 (NKCMS) The NKCMS recognises that koalas have suffered serious declines due largely to habitat clearing and fragmentation since European settlement. Other current and historical threats to koalas identified in the national strategy include hunting, disease, fire, drought, vehicle strike, predation by dogs and climate change. The NKCMS supports the need to manage individual koala populations through local strategic solutions and local planning and aims to provide a national framework for koala conservation. Local government authorities are recognised as playing a leading role in koala conservation programs. The NKCMS is due to be replaced by a national Koala Recovery Plan to be introduced by the federal government under the provisions of the EPBC Act. Koala conservation status in SEQ Koalas were listed by the State Government as vulnerable throughout the South East Queensland Bioregion in 2004 under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. In 2006, the State introduced the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016 (now replaced by the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 - the State Koala Plan). Findings of ongoing dramatic declines in SEQ prompted the State government to take urgent action in 2008 by releasing a Koala Crisis Response Strategy that included a review of legislative and regulatory approaches to koala conservation in SEQ. This led to the adoption of State Planning Policy 2/10: Koala Conservation in South East Queensland November 2012 (now replaced by State Planning Policy July 2014), South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provisions and Offsets for Net Gain of Koala Habitat in South East Queensland Policy (now replaced by the Environmental Offsets Act 2014, supported by the Environmental Offsets Policy and Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014). Regional Policy 2.2 (Koala Conservation) in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 recognises the need to enhance koala populations in the region through protection, management, achieving net gains in bushland koala habitat, and by managing conflict with urban development. The State Government has also established a Koala Habitat Program 2012-2015 for the SEQ Koala Protection Area. This program includes a Koala Nature Refuges Program and a Koala Habitat Acquisitions Program. Both of these programs seek expressions of interest from the public with respect to private land holdings that fall outside the urban footprint (as defined by the SEQ Regional Plan) that contain at least 10 hectares of land mapped by the SEQ Koala Habitat Values Mapping as suitable for koala habitat rehabilitation. An outline of provisions in relevant Commonwealth and State legislation and policy is provided in Appendix 2. Koala habitat conservation measures Although key responsibilities for koala habitat conservation rest with the City in conjunction with relevant local planning provisions, development activities are governed by Commonwealth, State and local planning instruments, some of which contain specific provisions for koala protection and conservation. The City of Gold Coast is currently developing a new planning scheme that will include provisions for koala conservation consistent with requirements of the State Planning Policy July 2014 and the Environmental Offsets Act 2014. Relevant considerations include: The City has adopted standard conditions of development approval that reflect the requirements of the State Koala Plan in relation to requirements for sequential clearing in koala habitat areas and the need for koala spotters during tree clearing operations. Under State interest – biodiversity provisions of the State Planning Policy, matters of national environmental significance MNES (which includes the koala as a federally listed threatened species throughout Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory), matters of state environmental significance MSES (including facilitating a net gain in koala bushland habitat in the SEQ region), or matters of local environmental significance MLES (which must not be the same as either MNES or MSES and must be consistent with the Environmental Offsets Act 2014) must be considered and appropriately integrated when making or amending a planning scheme or designating land for community infrastructure. Reference should be made to the Planning Guidelines for Koala Conservation and Recovery (McAlpine et al. 2007) and Appendix 3 when undertaking local-scale koala conservation planning for the project area.



Priority Koala Conservation Precinct A Priority Koala Conservation Precinct (PKCP) has been identified in conjunction with the East Coomera Koala Conservation Planning Project (see Figure B1.1). The PKCP covers around 2,112 hectares which includes areas that currently support patches of high quality koala habitat outside the urban footprint, together with tracts of predominantly cleared rural lands that may collectively support and sustain a long-term koala population at East Coomera-Pimpama. The PKCP provides a focus for habitat protection and restoration and threat mitigation measures within the project area. Specific measures for investigation will include potential habitat restoration programs, potential focus for delivery of future environmental offsets within the City, a potential focus area for future urban biodiversity programs, wild dog management programs, community koala friends program, community education and awareness activities, entry signage on adjoining major roads, and monitoring of koala population size, distribution, health and genetics. The PKCP is augmented by designated conservation areas and bushland reserves that form components of the Gainsborough Greens Open Space Strategy (October 2013). Actions Actions Lead Priority Cost

Estimate 1 HABITAT CONSERVATION a Enhance the level of protection for Preferred Koala Tree

Species wherever they occur within the identified Priority Koala Conservation Precinct (PKCP).

CP CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Amend City Plan 2015 overlay code and mapping if necessary to ensure that it addresses the PKCP.

CP HIGH OFFICER TIME

c Adopt the amended Nature Conservation Code and Policy 8 (Guidelines for Preparing Ecological Assessments) to include minimum search effort and methods for koala surveys in conjunction with finalisation of City Plan 2015.


d Continue to investigate and negotiate potential Voluntary Conservation Agreements and Land for Wildlife programs for suitable properties in the project area.

EP HIGH OFFICER TIME

e Investigate critical habitat linkages within the PKCP and explore the feasibility of enhancing opportunities for safe koala dispersal under the Pacific Motorway in the western extent.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

f Further investigate the potential introduction of incentive-based measures to encourage voluntary conservation, management and restoration of koala habitat on private property.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

g Investigate inclusion of information regarding the presence of koala habitat on title search documentation.

CD MED OFFICER TIME

h Refer to the “Planning Guidelines for Koala Conservation and Recovery” (McAlpine et al. 2007) for city planning and development assessment purposes.

CP CD

MED OFFICER TIME

i Inspect conservation reserves and parklands that support koalas annually to document tree health and condition and determine if any remedial actions may be necessary.

EP NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME

Note: CP = City Planning Branch; CD = City Development Branch; EP = Environment Planning Team; NAMU = Natural Areas Management Unit.

B2 Habitat Restoration Without careful management, remaining koala habitat areas could become further degraded and fragmented to the detriment of koalas and other native species. With land management strategies and practices rarely specifically addressing the restoration of koala habitat, a management strategy is required to identify principal impacts associated with land degradation and to outline opportunities to optimise koala habitat quality. Koala habitat restoration programs may include revegetation (plantings), assisted regeneration (e.g. control of weeds or fencing to exclude livestock) and reconstruction. The most suitable approach for each site will depend


on the specific requirements to achieve recovery of vegetation communities. Regeneration techniques are most appropriate where natural recovery potential is high, while more intensive reconstruction activities may be necessary in more heavily cleared and disturbed areas where the potential for natural recovery is low. Habitat reconstruction efforts targeting koalas will include revegetation with suitable trees for food, shelter and social interaction, as well as facilitating the restoration of other components and processes that are vital to ecosystem function. Habitat restoration programs will target key koala habitats within council reserves and on private land. Key koala habitat areas will be prioritised to achieve the best use of resources to benefit koala conservation.

Best practice restoration principles 1. Restored ecosystems incorporate assemblages of species reflecting those in the original ecosystems,

with potential to recruit further species naturally. 2. Restored ecosystems support the same structure and function as the original ecosystems. 3. Restored ecosystems consist of indigenous species of local provenance to the greatest extent

practicable, with exotic and invasive species that would otherwise degrade ecosystem health not represented.

4. Restored ecosystems are self-sustaining to the same degree as the original ecosystem such that they are resilient to normal periodic stress.

5. Restored ecosystems interact with the surrounding landscape and contribute to ecosystem services. Refer to South East Queensland Ecological Restoration Framework: Guideline (Chenoweth EPLA and Bushland Restoration Services 2012).

Actions Actions Lead Priority Cost

Estimate 2 HABITAT RESTORATION Identification of habitat restoration priorities a Prepare and maintain a prioritised list of potential koala habitat

restoration sites for the project area focused on the identified PKCP and areas identified as suitable for koala habitat rehabilitation.

EP NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Incorporate targeted koala habitat restoration measures for priority sites into standard restoration plans for City-managed properties in the project area and facilitate incorporation into rehabilitation planning for relevant covenant areas on private lands.

NAMU CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME

Budget and resource requirements c Utilise the list of priority koala habitat restoration sites for any

future City-based conservation offsetting programs. EP NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME

d Liaise with the State Government to promote the list of priority koala habitat restoration sites for possible application of State koala conservation offsetting funds.


e Liaise with the Commonwealth Government regarding the delivery of koala habitat offsets that may be required under the EPBC Act.

EP NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME

f Monitor and apply for relevant grant applications for restoration projects on public lands in collaboration with suitable community groups or land management agencies.

NAMU EP

HIGH OFFICER TIME

Tree species selection g Utilise Preferred Koala Tree Species (see Part C1) for

revegetation (planting) projects where appropriate and facilitate through rehabilitation plans in conjunction with Development Applications, with the ultimate goal to restore degraded areas

NAMU CD EP

HIGH OFFICER TIME


Actions Lead Priority Cost Estimate

to original Regional Ecosystem types. h Prepare and promote guidelines for selection of sites for

planting Preferred Koala Tree Species (see Part C1) in the project area to ensure suitable placement.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

Nursery stock i Propagate nursery stock for koala habitat restoration programs

in the project area from local provenance seed where possible, harvested from well-spaced parent trees known to have been utilised by koalas. Label seedlings produced in nurseries with collection sites.

NAMU MED OFFICER TIME + $4,000

Note: CD = City Development Branch; EP = Environment Planning Team; NAMU = Natural Areas Management Unit.

B3 Traffic Management Koala mortalities and injuries caused by vehicle strike occur within the project area when koalas disperse from their mother’s home range as sub-adults or when they establish home ranges that overlap with roads. Information gathered from Wildcare Australia and the City of Gold Coast koala sightings database will allow for monitoring of the number of koalas involved in vehicle incidents and the locations where the incidents occur. These locations can then be targeted for mitigation measures. While data analyses indicate that the greater the speed the less likely a koala will survive a collision, collisions at any speed are generally fatal for koalas. The most important consequence of slower speed is reduced likelihood of collision. Other factors likely to influence the chance of koalas being hit include features of the roadside environment; the width of the cleared zone between the road edge and adjacent trees; the width of gravel shoulders; the presence of roadside drains; the height of roadside vegetation; the level of habitat disturbance in adjacent areas; and the presence of roadside lighting. These factors may affect a driver’s ability to see a koala before it attempts to cross onto the roadway. The six koala vehicle strike incidents reported to Wildcare Australia for the East Coomera and Pimpama areas from January 2012 to December 2013 caused fatal injuries. The City of Gold Coast recorded an additional two koala road-fatalities for the project area during this time. Combined data from the City and Wildcare Australia records indicate that no koala vehicle strike incidents were reported for the project area in 2000 to 2002; only one koala vehicle strike incident was reported between 2003 and 2007; yet 20 incidents were reported between 2008 and 2012. Only one incident was reported for the project area during 2013. Koala vehicle strike incidents (with GPS coordinates) are shown in Figure B3.1. The Pacific Motorway recorded 13 koala vehicle strike incidents between 2008 and 2012, and Foxwell Road recorded seven incidents between 2008 and October 2013. Two koala vehicle strikes were reported for the Coomera area at Cemetery Way and Buccaneer Way. The prevalence of koala vehicle strike has been mitigated during the course of the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project through monitoring and relocation of koalas close to major roads. To help address this issue during the koala monitoring and relocation program and the preparation phase for the Plan, prominent koala crossing signs and painted road threshold treatments were installed on Foxwell Road, Yawalpah Road, Amity Road, Kerkin Road, Finnegan Way and Coleman Road. The new crossing signs display the 1300 MY GCCC number to report koala sightings. The significance of the impact from road fatalities will be greater than indicated by the records, as not all koala collisions are reported.




Estimate 3 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT a Wildcare Australia continue to keep comprehensive records for

koalas that come into their care for contribution towards ongoing population monitoring and conservation planning.

WA HIGH EXTERNAL

b Continue to maintain an accurate database for koala sighting records and promote the reporting line.


c Liaise with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to consider potential additional measures for City and State roads to reduce risks to koalas and improve road safety in the project area and surrounds. This action includes liaison and planning in relation to the planned Inter-regional Transport Corridor.


d Incorporate road design considerations into ecological assessment guidelines and relevant planning scheme codes.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

e Prepare road design checklist material for use by Environmental Planning officers in development assessment.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

f Regularly review Wildcare Australia rescue database and the City koala sightings database to identify any emerging road black spot areas and koala crossing locations.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

g Investigate emerging high risk areas with Engineering Services to evaluate possible further measures to decrease risks of koala vehicle strike.

EP ES

HIGH OFFICER TIME

h Implement additional mitigation measures and road signage in response to reviews and investigations f) and g) above.

EP ES

HIGH OFFICER TIME + $11,875

i Investigate potential measures to reduce access by koalas to roads in locations on the periphery of the intensively developed urban area during the first year of the conservation plan implementation. Trial exclusion fencing for one section.

EP ES


Measures for consideration subject to funding j Slower speed zones (50 km/hr) subject to provisions of

the Manual of Traffic Control Devices. Additional koala road signage or road threshold

treatments for emerging black spot areas where koalas frequently cross.

Possible upgraded signage with flashing lights at night if major black spot areas become apparent over time, subject to merits depending on the location.

Improved street lighting for drivers to see koalas at key crossing sites.

Changeable signs displaying key koala safety messages, including the number of days since a koala road incident (e.g. ‘100 days koala vehicle strike free’).

EP ES CD

MED TBD

Note: CD = City Development Branch; EP = Environment Planning Team; ES = Engineering Services Directorate; WA = Wildcare Australia

B4 Dog Management The City contains over 60,000 registered domestic dogs. Most are kept within urban areas, including many locations in the project area that adjoin reserves and parklands containing high quality koala habitat. Attack from domestic dogs has been identified as a major threatening process to the survival of koalas in urban and semi-urban areas of eastern Australia. Out of a total of 15 koalas rescued or recovered from the project area by Wildcare Australia during 2012, two were the subject of known or suspected attack by dogs.


Factors concerning domestic dog and koala interactions include: Most attacks on koalas take place in the dog’s own backyard. Attacks mainly occur between sunset and sunrise when koalas are generally most active and likely to be moving on the ground. The majority of fatal attacks on koalas are from dogs that weigh over 10 kg. Generally, the larger the dog, the greater the likelihood of inflicting fatal injuries to a koala. Although dog attacks occur throughout the year, they are more likely to occur between July and December (peaking in September). This is the most active period of the koala breeding season, when koalas are generally more mobile. There is a higher likelihood of attack on koalas if two or more dogs are present. Lack of vegetation within a back-yard reduces opportunities for possible escape from dog attack. Fences that are difficult for koalas to climb from inside the yard can reduce opportunities for a koala to escape. Yards where dog attacks occur often contain preferred koala trees. The majority of dog attacks on koalas are ultimately fatal.

Legislation The City regulates domestic animal ownership through local laws. Local Law 12 (Animal Management) 2013 provides the City with the ability to adopt dog enclosure requirements for designated koala areas. A ‘koala area’ is defined as a koala habitat area or area designated by Subordinate Local Law 12 (Animal Management) 2013 as a koala area.

The Subordinate Local Law does not currently contain specific koala provisions. The designation of koala areas under this subordinate law and associated guidelines would require close cooperation between the City’s Animal Management Unit and the Environment Planning Team and would require approval from Council. Pet owners should be encouraged to report attacks on koalas as soon as possible. Even minor encounters can prove fatal to a koala where puncture wounds are inflicted. A quick response from Wildcare Australia can prevent life threatening infection. Information and guidance on how to prevent another attack from occurring should be provided to pet owners. Community awareness and education Community education and awareness programs are considered crucial to help guide koala conservation and domestic animal management. There are a number of opportunities for the City to ensure land owners, animal owners and concerned community members are aware of their responsibilities under the relevant local law. Actions Actions Lead Priority Cost

Estimate 4 DOG MANAGEMENT Local Law a Consider reviewing Subordinate Local Law 12 to designate

(map) koala areas for the project area and to prescribe requirements for keeping domestic dogs within a koala area. Note: any review would be submitted to Council for approval.

AMU EP

HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Consider preparing a standard title notification for properties located within a designated koala area and creating a standard dog ownership notification for subdivision applications to inform owners of the provisions of Local Law 12 and Subordinate Local Law 12.

AMU MED OFFICER TIME

Raising awareness c Continue to respond as soon as possible to complaints of

roaming domestic dogs in urban parts of the project area. AMU HIGH OFFICER

TIME d Follow-up on reported koala attacks by domestic dogs in the

project area where possible to help raise awareness and to discuss possible approaches to reduce risks of further attacks.

CP WA

HIGH OFFICER TIME + EXTERNAL



e Ensure public reserves in koala areas are effectively sign-posted regarding dog provisions and the potential presence of koalas.

P&RS NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME + $4000

Conditions of development approval f Investigate options for domestic dog management within any

future designated koala areas, particularly in the case of community title development.

CP AMU CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME

g Consider including koala protection requirements in Community Management Schemes (CMS) with respect to community title applications.

CD EP

MED OFFICER TIME

Note: CP = City Planning Branch; CD = City Development Branch; EP = Environment Planning Team; NAMU = Natural Areas Management Unit; AMU = Animal Management Unit; P&RS = Parks & Recreational Services Unit; WA = Wildcare Australia

B5 Feral Animal Management The project area contains a range of feral animals including wild dogs, foxes and pigs. Wild dogs are likely to have the most significant impact on koalas, and therefore warrant the highest management priority for the Koala Conservation Plan. While wild dogs are not likely to cause significant issues for koalas within urban sections of the project area, they have the potential to cause serious impacts in adjoining rural landscapes and the larger bushland areas. The level of impact on koalas from wild dogs is likely to be exacerbated when habitat is highly fragmented, as koalas need to spend more time on the ground moving between trees and habitat patches, thus making them more vulnerable to predation. Actions Actions Lead Priority Cost

Estimate 5 FERAL ANIMAL MANAGEMENT a Continue to develop and implement wild dog and fox

management plans and to employ proactive management practices.


b Design and implement a wild dog monitoring program for bushland sites within the project area.


c Continue to maintain a Feral Animals Database together with Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping covering the project area.


Note: AMU = Animal Management Unit

B6 Bushfires Bushfire represents a serious threat to wildlife within conservation areas, council controlled reserves and in areas of significant bushland on private land in the East Coomera area. Bushfire management and hazard reduction programs on private lands must meet legislative and permit requirements administered by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS). Within City reserves, ongoing bushfire management and hazard reduction burns need to meet the same requirements and are undertaken by the City’s Natural Areas Management Unit (NAMU) using embedded QRFS officers. Hazard reduction burn plans for specific City reserves within the project area are prepared and coordinated by NAMU.


Specific details on bushfire management in the project area can be found in the Coomera Linkage Conservation Reserves Bushfire Management Plan (Planning) 2013 and the Coomera Linkage Conservation Reserves Bushfire Management Plan (Operations) 2013. Bushfires have the potential to impact significantly on the local koala population, particularly in circumstances where intensive wildfires could occur across extensive areas. Koalas do not attempt to flee from an area in the event of bushfire. Instead, they generally climb a tall tree and curl up to protect their face and paws as much as possible as the fire passes. Low intensity bushfires involving ground layer and understorey vegetation are unlikely to cause serious harm to koalas. However, intense fires that impact the canopy layer are likely to cause serious injuries to koalas that are typically fatal. Frequent bushfires can also alter the composition and structure of vegetation communities and can impede the growth of Eucalyptus seedlings. Actions Actions Lead Priority Cost

Estimate 6 BUSHFIRES a Ensure koalas and koala habitat are thoroughly considered in

the preparation of Strategic Bushfire Management Plans and Hazard Reduction Burn Plans.

NAMU HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Ensure hazard reduction (HR) burns in areas known to support koalas and koala habitat are maintained at low intensity and managed to minimise risks to resident koalas.


c Liaise with local rural fire brigades in the project area to outline koala conservation requirements and how to identify if koalas are present during pre-burn inspections.

EP NAMU

LOW OFFICER TIME

d Map the extent of bushfires throughout the project area and record fire behaviour during HR burns in City reserves.

NAMU LOW OFFICER TIME

Note: EP = Environment Planning Team; NAMU = Natural Areas Management Unit

B7 Koala Welfare Wildcare Australia is accredited by the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to care for sick, injured, orphaned or otherwise distressed koalas and other wildlife in the City. Veterinary treatment of rescued animals is provided primarily by Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital and Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Problems that most commonly require koala rescue in the project area include illness, injuries from motor vehicles, and dog attacks. Since 2003, Wildcare Australia has attended to 36 koala rescues for the project area. Twenty-one koala rescues were undertaken by Wildcare in the project area during 2011 and 2012, of which road trauma (or suspected road trauma) was the most common reason (n = 8), followed by other injuries (n = 4), illness or disease other than Chlamydia (n = 3), chlamydial disease (n = 2), attack by domestic dogs (n = 2), and two were orphaned young. As well as rescuing, rehabilitating, hand-raising, and releasing numbers of koalas each year, Wildcare Australia and the wildlife hospitals contribute to community education on koala conservation and collate crucial information that will assist with monitoring the ongoing status of the local koala population and the efficacy of the Plan. While most koalas have been relocated away from the new urban area in conjunction with the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project, it is estimated that up to an additional 40 koalas are likely to remain within planned areas that are yet to undergo vegetation clearing operations.



Estimate 7 KOALA WELFARE a Continue to actively promote the information and reporting line

(1300 MY GCCC) and the Wildcare Australia 24-hour hotline for the community to report koala sightings.


b Continue to maintain accurate databases on koala health, threats and rescue locations.

EP WA

HIGH EXTERNAL

c Liaise with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital to discuss opportunities for trialling the Chlamydia vaccine through hospital admissions from the project area.

EP CSWH

MED OFFICER TIME + $10,000

d Liaise with Wildcare Australia to arrange for the rescue of sick or injured koalas in the project area when required.

EP WA

HIGH OFFICER TIME

e Continue to liaise with the development industry at East Coomera throughout remaining vegetation clearing operations.

EP CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME

Note: CD = City Development Branch; EP = Environment Planning Team; WA = Wildcare Australia; CSWH = Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital

B8 Community Education and Awareness Public education and awareness programs should promote a sense of stewardship and increase awareness of threats to the local koala population. Community education and awareness methods could include website material, social media, factsheets, sign posting, a local schools education program, library displays, corporate telephone hold message, and local media. A combination of methods is recommended. Existing programs and opportunities relevant to the project area include the annual Pet Expo, AVA PetPep Program, Gold Coast shows, ‘Just Walk Me’ program, Land for Wildlife Program and the Voluntary Conservation Agreement Program. New programs could include a Koala Friends Program, a local schools koala education program, an annual Family Koala Fun Day and annual koala conservation education workshops. A Koala Conservation Education Program for primary schools has been trialled in the Elanora-Currumbin Waters area. It includes school visits by Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) education officers as part of their Wildlife on Wheels package and visits by the schools to CWS, with follow-up activities for the classroom and at home. If the program is widely supported, it could potentially be promoted to primary schools across the city. A Family Koala Fun Day was trialled at CWS in conjunction with the koala conservation planning project for the Elanora-Currumbin Waters area. The day was well attended and provided an excellent opportunity to communicate information on koala threats and conservation actions to the community and to receive koala records and local observations of koala behaviour. A Koala Friends Program could promote koala conservation messages and provide direct advice to local residents on how to design, improve and maintain koala-friendly homes, how to record koalas, involvement in koala conservation events and education days, and participation in school-based programs. Participants would be eligible for a program sign, free participation in education days and annual awards for best efforts.



Estimate 8 COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS Website Material a Maintain and promote up-to-date koala conservation

information on City of Gold Coast website and social media. CC EP

HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Actively encourage community reports of wild dogs and foxes to the City’s Animal Management Unit.


Koala Friends Program c Initiate a Koala Friends Program for areas within and adjoining

the PKCP during the first year of the Koala Conservation Plan. EP HIGH OFFICER

TIME + $24,800

Environmental Education d Liaise with Dreamworld and Wildcare Australia to investigate

the feasibility of developing and hosting annual koala conservation education events.

EP WA

HIGH OFFICER TIME

e Develop education programs to increase community awareness of the importance of driving carefully in koala crossing areas and to promote responsible dog ownership, particularly in identified koala areas.

EP AMU CC


f Investigate the feasibility of promoting the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary koala conservation education program to schools in the project area.

CWS MED EXTERNAL

Telephone hold message and media liaison g Provide relevant information concerning koala conservation

issues on the City’s telephone hold recordings and liaise with local media concerning potential opportunities.

CC EP

LOW OFFICER TIME

Note: EP = Environment Planning Team; AMU = Animal Management Unit; CC = Corporate Communication Unit; WA = Wildcare Australia; CWS = Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

B9 Funding

Achieving the Koala Conservation Plan objectives will depend partly on funding to implement the prioritised actions. Funding for some actions is being pursued under the Open Space Preservation Levy reserve.

Potential funding sources include State and Commonwealth grants, developer contributions, and corporate or private sponsorship. Potential to collaborate with universities, not-for-profit and community organisations will be investigated as will opportunities for collaboration on funding or grant applications for these actions. Corporate or private sponsorship opportunities include:

Small Environmental Grants Scheme – Norman Wettenhall Foundation The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife SITA Australia NRMA Community and Environment Grants Canon Environmental Grants Developer contributions or fee for service. Bjarne K. Dahl Trust

State and Commonwealth grants include: State Koala Research Grant Programs State Offsets for Net Gain of Koala Habitat Commonwealth Caring for our Country Grants Commonwealth Community Action Grants.



Estimate 9 FUNDING a Identify potential opportunities for further collaboration on

identified actions and research partnerships. EP HIGH OFFICER

TIME b Identify potential external funding sources and prepare funding

applications. EP HIGH OFFICER

TIME Note: EP = Environment Planning Team

B10 Research Koala conservation programs and decision making should be guided by the outcomes of rigorous scientific research wherever possible. The field surveys that underpin the Koala Conservation Plan have: identified koala habitat preferences evaluated habitat quality assessed the distribution of the koala population in the project area estimated the size of the population established baseline survey stations for follow-up monitoring. Further research will identify trends in the health, distribution and size of the remaining koala population and the amount and condition of available habitat.

In order to make best use of available resources, research efforts should focus on areas where results will be most useful for evaluating, monitoring and refining koala habitat and population conservation programs. Initial research priorities include: improving understanding of diseases that impact koalas monitoring disease status within the population monitoring impacts from traffic strike and dog attack undertaking the Queensland University of Technology Chlamydia vaccine trial for rescued koalas admitted to Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital monitoring changes or trends in koala population distribution and size monitoring the level of reproductive disease and the rate of successful reproduction within the population measuring sub-adult dispersal patterns and success monitoring the health and condition of available koala habitat.


Estimate 10 RESEARCH a Regularly review and prioritise potential koala research

projects for application to koala habitat and population management. This should be accompanied by investigations into possible external funding sources.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

b Maintain a library of koala research reports for the project area and add to Nature Conservation Strategy electronic database.

EP LOW OFFICER TIME

c Promote priority koala research to universities for potential post-graduate student projects. For example: research into potential longer-term impacts of bushfires on

koalas and koala habitat research to improve knowledge of koala disease and to

increase knowledge for conservation planning.

EP CSWH

MED OFFICER TIME

Note: EP = Environment Planning Team; CSWH = Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital.


B11 Monitoring The monitoring program will provide researchers, planners and the community with information regarding the status, distribution, genetics and health of the local koala population, together with feedback on the effectiveness of conservation and management measures. An ongoing monitoring program will be implemented in conjunction with adoption of the Koala Conservation Plan. The performance indicators detailed earlier will measure whether outcomes have been achieved and quantify the success of the Plan’s actions. The monitoring program will include a procedure to be followed should the Plan fail to meet the identified performance indicators. The Plan will be regularly reviewed with the potential for periodic amendment of the measures employed where necessary in accordance with results from the monitoring program. The program will periodically appraise the status of the koala population and the available koala habitat within the project area, based on koala activity levels, evidence of breeding activity, records of mortality and apparent changes in the distribution of koalas. The program will accurately record changes in the amount and quality of available koala habitat, together with changes in habitat utilisation by koalas. The impact of threatening processes will be monitored to determine the success of the Plan and to focus resources on the highest priorities. Genetic analysis of samples collected from koalas during the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project showed moderate genetic diversity in comparison to other sampled koala populations from SEQ (Seddon 2014). Cluster analysis of population structure suggested the East Coomera koala population could be starting to diverge genetically from other local populations due to isolation effects. This warrants reassessment over time in case active management is called for at a future stage in order to bolster genetic vigour. Community surveys can assess and monitor the status of threatened species populations. Moreton Bay Regional Council hosts an annual community koala census day where local residents record koala sightings in their public parks and backyards. Results provide important information on the status and distribution of the local koala population. Actions Actions Lead Priority Cost

Estimate 11 MONITORING Koala habitat monitoring a Check against the most recent available imagery every two

years to help identify any incremental loss of habitat due to development activities and increases associated with habitat restoration programs for the project area, outside the current urban footprint.


b Maintain a register of potential discrepancies in the vegetation mapping, investigate these and make revisions to the koala habitat mapping where necessary.


c Investigate incorporation of koala habitat monitoring provisions into relevant covenants on private land.

CD EP

MED OFFICER TIME

Koala population monitoring d Coordinate an annual phone-in census for the project area in

conjunction with Wildcare Australia on a designated weekend each spring-summer.

EP CSWH WA

MED OFFICER TIME

e Continue to maintain a koala records database and identify any changes in the apparent distribution of koala sightings annually.




f Coordinate repeat transect-based koala searches for at least five monitoring sites plus Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) surveys for at least 10 sites every two years and interpret results against initial baseline surveys.


g Coordinate further detailed koala health examinations and undertake ongoing assessment of koala health within the project area.

EP


h Coordinate reassessment of genetic diversity for the project area after three years, based on samples collected from koala captures, rescues and hospital admissions.

EP CSWH


i Coordinate updated koala Population Viability Analysis (PVA) modelling after three years.

EP MED OFFICER TIME + $5,000

Evaluation j Evaluate and document findings of the ongoing monitoring

program against the Performance Indicators, the extent to which actions have been implemented and their apparent effectiveness.


Note: CD = City Development Branch; EP = Environment Planning Team; WA = Wildcare Australia; CSWH = Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital; SAT = Spot Assessment Technique (Phillips and Callaghan 2011)

B12 Implementation Review Review of the performance of the Koala Conservation Plan will ensure the objectives are being met and that resources are being allocated in accordance with changing priorities and needs over time. Actions Actions Lead Priority Cost

Estimate 12 IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW a Undertake a full review of the performance of the Koala

Conservation Plan and consider further actions four years after adoption. Submit the review report to Council for consideration.


Note: EP = Environment Planning Team


PART C – SUPPORTING RESEARCH

C1 Koala Habitat and Population Status This chapter outlines existing koala habitat mapping, summarises the results from surveys undertaken in conjunction with the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project, and discusses koala tree species and habitat preferences as well as koala population size and conservation status for the project area. This information provides a basis for designing koala conservation measures, monitoring change in the remaining koala population and for assessing the effectiveness of the koala conservation plan. Koala habitat mapping Koala habitat mapping is available for the project area from: State Government SEQ Koala Habitat Values mapping

This provides a broad classification of koala habitat across 10 Local Government Areas (including the City of Gold Coast). The mapping identifies high, medium and low value categories for bushland habitat and other vegetation, as well as for areas considered suitable for koala habitat rehabilitation. The State mapping delineates substantial areas of high and medium value bushland habitat and areas of medium value suitable for rehabilitation within the project area.

State Planning Policy July 2014 (SPP) - koala bushland habitat mapping

Under State interest – biodiversity, the SPP seeks to protect matters of environmental significance, including those areas containing matters of state environmental significance (MSES). For the purposes of the SPP, interactive MSES mapping is available from the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning website: http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/about-planning/spp-mapping-online-system.html The MSES mapping assists planning and development assessment decision-making. It supports implementation of the SPP biodiversity policy, but does not replace regulatory mapping or environmental values specifically called up under other laws or regulations. Mapping of koala bushland habitat is embedded within the MSES – Wildlife Habitat layer. Wildlife habitat represents mapped essential habitat for threatened wildlife listed as Endangered or Vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (which includes the koala across the SEQ bioregion) and the habitat for iconic species listed as a ‘special least concern animal’ (i.e. koalas outside the SEQ bioregion, echidna and platypus) under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006. Koala bushland habitat consists of ‘high value’, ‘medium value’ and ‘low value’ koala bushland habitat categories from the State Government’s SEQ koala habitat values mapping.

Koala Habitat and Population Assessment for the City of Gold Coast

A 2007 city-wide assessment of koalas and koala habitat was undertaken on behalf of the City by Biolink Ecological Consultants. It assigned koala habitat categories from A (highest quality) to E (lowest quality) based on the estimated average proportional abundances of identified Preferred Koala Food Trees (PKFT) for each mapped Regional Ecosystem (RE) or vegetation community type. Habitat categories A-C involve REs where PKFT are present, with highest habitat quality (A) assigned to REs where these species represent on average at least 35 per cent of the trees present. Category B was applied to REs with PKFT representing less than 35 per cent but greater than five per cent of the trees present. Habitat category C was assigned to REs where PKFT represent on average five per cent or less. Category D represents vegetation communities where eucalypts are present, but where PKFT are generally absent. Vegetation communities lacking eucalypts were classified as category E, the lowest koala habitat quality class.

http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/about-planning/spp-mapping-online-system.html


Field surveys Detailed field surveys for the project area were undertaken by Biolink Ecological Consultants in 2006-07 on behalf of the City (Biolink 2007b). This work underpinned the formulation of the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project. The Biolink study examined the significance of the ecological impacts on the koala population from development of the Coomera Town Centre and associated urban areas, and considered management options to sustain the koala population within the overall project area. The study estimated that the East Coomera-Pimpama koala population consisted of approximately 500 individuals with around 0.23 + 0.03 (SE) koalas per hectare. The population appeared to be in excellent condition with a healthy age class distribution, a relatively high rate of reproduction and low incidence of outward signs of disease. The report concluded that the areas of koala habitat that would remain once the town centre is developed would not be sufficient to accommodate the koalas that would be displaced through the development process. Hence, it proposed the need for koala relocation as a key component of a comprehensive koala management strategy. The population density estimate derived for the project area was high in comparison to overall estimates produced for the entire City of 0.09 ± 0.04 from strip-transects (n = 44) and 0.11 ± 0.03 koalas per hectare from SAT-based searches (n = 95) (Biolink 2007a), which further emphasises the significance of the East Coomera koala population. Koala density estimates derived by the City in conjunction with the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project for four sites at East Coomera where in-situ radio tracking and monitoring allowed for a detailed understanding of koala population demographics, home-range size and local koala numbers, varied from 0.21 up to 0.54 koalas per hectare (kph), with an average density of around 0.37 kph. These four sites included mixed quality koala habitat with relatively intact understorey and sub-canopy vegetation layers. Less intact vegetation communities that are prevalent at many remaining sites within the urban footprint appear to support considerably lower average koala densities. Population Viability Analysis modelling undertaken as part of the Biolink study supported the potential of retaining a stable source population of approximately 200 koalas outside the new urban area, subject to establishing a core area of at least 1,500 hectares of suitable koala habitat and ensuring that losses associated with threats such as motor vehicles, dogs, bushfires and disease are kept at low levels (e.g. less than three per cent of the population size annually).

Summary of Biolink field surveys The Biolink field surveys for the project area involved 200 grid-based Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) sites (see Phillips and Callaghan 2011) aimed to investigate koala activity levels and habitat use, combined with radial searches for koalas at each SAT site in order to derive koala population estimates for the project area. The SAT assesses tree species use and determines a koala activity level for each site based on a binary variable (presence/absence of koala pellets). It involves a systematic search for koala pellets within a one metre catchment around a centre tree, followed by the nearest 29 trees in a variable-radius plot. Each tree was identified to species and measured (dbhob), while all trees within a 25 metre radius of the centre tree (area = 0.196 hectares) were thoroughly searched for koalas. A total of 159 out of the 200 SAT sites (79.5 per cent) were positive for koala faecal pellet evidence, with 52 per cent returning a koala activity level in the medium to high use range. These results confirmed the widespread distribution of koalas within the project area and allowed for the identification of meta-population boundaries, supporting the main breeding areas for the population and medium to high koala densities (see Figure C1.6 below). A total of 5,124 trees were searched for koala faecal pellet evidence within the project area, which when combined with results from the city-wide koala habitat and population assessments identified four preferred koala food tree species for the City of Gold Coast: tallowwood E. microcorys, forest red gum E. tereticornis, swamp mahogany E. robusta and small-fruited grey gum E. propinqua (Biolink 2007a).


Summary of City field surveys The East Coomera Koala Conservation Project has resulted in the capture of 216 koalas from the project area, including 180 that were subsequently relocated to either Lower Beechmont Conservation Area or Wongawallan Conservation Area (see Figure C1.1). The in-situ monitoring program at East Coomera has involved 98 koalas, of which 60 were subsequently incorporated into the relocation groups, and has yielded over 3,000 separate observations of koalas from the East Coomera project area and has recorded koalas using more than 40 different tree species including Eucalyptus (17 species), Corymbia (four sp.), Melaleuca (three sp.), Lophostemon (two sp.) and Angophora (two sp.). The Project has confirmed the key importance of five Eucalyptus species for koalas in the project area including forest red gum, grey ironbark E. siderophloia, tallowwood, swamp mahogany and small-fruited grey gum, which have collectively accounted for 45.8 per cent of the recorded tree use. Broad-leaved paperbark M. quinquinervia, pink bloodwood C. intermedia, brush box L. confertus and swamp box L. suaveolens were stand-outs among the non-eucalypt species, representing a combined total of 27.3 per cent of the recorded tree use by koalas. The radio tracking program for the project area has also helped estimate average home range size for adult male and adult female koalas, to investigate the extent of overlap between the home range areas of adjacent koalas within different breeding groups; estimate koala densities for different parts of the project area and relate this to habitat quality and disturbance factors; and identify high use areas within the home range of individual koalas and to explore potential underlying reasons (see Figure C1.2). The Project has also provided data on the dispersal patterns and timing for sub-adult koalas in the project area as they move away from their mothers’ home range. The overriding tendency appears to be for the dispersing sub-adult koalas to move in a westerly direction, which brings them in contact with threats associated with established urban areas and major roads (see Figure C1.3). The radio tracking program has indicated that sub-adult dispersal takes place over winter and spring, particularly during July, August and September, which coincides with commencement of the breeding season. Young koalas will be particularly vulnerable over this time as they move through the landscape in search of a suitable area to establish their home range and become members of the breeding population. Baseline surveys for Pimpama River Conservation Area A total of 38 SAT sites were set out on a 200 metre grid and surveyed for evidence of koala faecal pellet-based activity across the Pimpama River Conservation Area between December 2007 and February 2008 (see Figure C1.4). Koala faecal pellets were detected at 35 of the 38 SAT sites, with activity levels (AL) ranging from 10 per cent (0.1) up to 80 per cent (0.8); the mean AL was 0.21 and median AL was 0.13. High koala activity levels were recorded at 10 of the SAT survey sites, with medium activity at a further four sites. The SAT surveys involved 1,170 trees within the conservation area including three species of Eucalyptus and 12 species of non-eucalypt. Forest red gum received the highest level of use by koalas among the eucalypt species recording a strike rate of 0.3607 (36.1 per cent) with 57 out of 158 trees surveyed recording a positive result for koala faecal pellet evidence. Broad-leaved paperbark was the most abundant of the non-eucalypt tree species (n = 336) with a strike rate of 0.1785 (17.9 per cent), followed by pink bloodwood (n = 281) and strike rate of 0.1708 (17.1 per cent). The SAT surveys for Pimpama River Conservation Area provide crucial baseline information for future koala population monitoring in East Coomera.






Koala sightings for the project area The City has maintained a koala sightings database since July 2008 and established a koala information line in January 2009 and an online koala sightings form in June 2009. Since then, 135 community koala sightings have been reported to the City for the East Coomera and Pimpama areas. The sightings have been submitted either via the online reporting form on the City webpage goldcoastcity.com.au/koala, the koala information line 1300 MY GCCC, or through direct reports to City officers (see Table C1.1).

Table C1.1 Reporting method for koala sightings received by the City for the East Coomera and Pimpama areas between June 2009 and September 2013. Method of reporting East Coomera Pimpama Koala information line 30 2 Online koala sighting form 73 0 Posted/faxed koala sighting form 10 0 Direct reports to City officers 19 1 Totals 132 3

The timing of koala sighting reports for the project area is illustrated in Figure C1.5. Peak periods for sighting reports occur during Spring and Summer of 2009-10 and again in 2012-13. The high number of sightings for 2009-10 is likely to have been bolstered by establishment of the City koala information line and online reporting form and koala webpage, as well as the installation of koala project road signage promoting the information line.

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Figure C1.5 Total koala sightings reported to the City for East Coomera and Pimpama between June 2009 and September 2013.

The sightings records provide data on the distribution of koalas throughout the project area. The density of sightings is likely to include bias towards areas where people most frequent. However, with residential areas and roads dispersed throughout the project area, the location and density of records is also considered likely to provide a useful indicator of koala densities for areas that are accessible to members of the general community. The sightings database has assisted the City in developing the koala conservation plan and provides important information for monitoring future koala population trends and the effectiveness of koala conservation measures. Ranges 8 v2.4 software was used to model contours representing the proportion of combined koala sighting records captured at 20 per cent intervals (commencing at 30 per cent and extending up to 90 per cent, plus a 99 per cent contour line) across the project area (see Figure C1.6). This work has helped to identify core areas for koala sightings and to estimate areas of potential highest koala population density.



The koala records included the City’s sightings database, records from Wildcare Australia, and sightings from spotter-catcher reports. The records also included the point of capture for 204 koalas located by the City under the East Coomera koala monitoring and relocation program. Koala sighting records were used from 2006 onwards, coinciding with the commencement of detailed koala assessments for the East Coomera area by Biolink on behalf of the City. The Biolink report underpinned the development of the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project. Koala metapopulation boundaries delineating focal areas of koala activity for the project area were identified by Biolink and are also shown on Figure C1.6 for the purpose of contrast and comparison.

C2 Koala Health Assessment This chapter summarises key overall findings from health assessments for over 200 koalas from the project area that were captured in conjunction with the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project. These assessments established an overall health profile for the local koala population to inform conservation measures and provide baseline data for future monitoring. The koala captures, health examinations, sample collection and analyses for the project were undertaken in accordance with Animal Ethics Committee approvals CA 2008/06/273 and CA 2011/06/519 and Scientific Purposes Permits WISP 05591008 and WISP 13423213 issued by the State Government. The health assessments involved detailed examinations under anaesthesia and included blood biochemistry and haematology analysis, Chlamydia swab sample analysis, ultrasound screening, age estimation, urinalysis, DNA sample collection, plus fur and plasma sample collection for stress hormone analysis. The findings have also provided important information on population demographics and prevalence of chlamydial disease. Koala health status for the Project was categorised according to the protocol indicated in Table C2.1.

Table C2.1 Health status classification protocol for the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project. Signs of potentially serious disease:

– Overt clinical signs (e.g. conjunctivitis, cystitis, rhinitis, bursal cysts, peridontal disease, ulcers, significant fungal infections, tumours, extremely poor body condition score < 5/10, ocular disease)

– Sonographic examination or X-ray (e.g. detection of reproductive tract disease, urinary tract disease, renal disease, osteochondroma, osteosarcoma, prostate disease)

– Chlamydia Clearview test result (positive score) – Blood test parameters (e.g. those that are markedly outside the normal

reference range or highly unusual for healthy koalas, unless resolved at a subsequent health check)

– Examination of urine sediment sample (e.g. presence of indicators of infection)

– Bone marrow examination (e.g. marked abnormalities amongst red and white blood cells)

Some signs for concern: – No overt clinical signs, but blood test results and/or bone marrow smear

results are of some concern and warrant follow up assessment. – There appears to be some physical abnormality that requires further

examination via ultrasound or X-ray (unavailable at initial examination) – Body condition is poor (5-6/10), but no other obvious signs No sign of disease: – No overt clinical signs – Blood test results may show minor variations for blood parameters from

normal reference ranges

Koala health issues have been recognised as one of the key factors contributing to koala population declines across SEQ. Assessment of the current health status of koalas within the project area has provided a vital insight into key factors that threaten the remaining population. Of the koalas from the project area examined for the Project, approximately 40 per cent had some clinical signs of illness or disease ranging from conjunctivitis, cystitis, reproductive tract disease, nephritis, kidney disease,


gingivitis, gastro-intestinal candidiasis, poor body condition, bacterial infection, toxaemia/septicaemia, anaemia and bone marrow disease (see Table C2.2).

Table C2.2 Categorisation of koala captures from East Coomera for the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project according to detailed health examination results.

Disease category Description Number Percentage

Appears healthy

Fits into the category "No signs of disease" - refer to Table C2.1; health assessment was undertaken by the CoGC koala project team.

56 27.45

Appears healthy

Fits into the category "No signs of disease" - refer to Table C2.1; health assessment was undertaken by the CoGC koala project team and project veterinarian (involving ultrasonic examination).

36 17.65

Disease present Fits into the category "Signs of potentially serious disease"; refer to Table C2.1.

71 34.80

Possible disease Fits into the category "Some signs of concern"; refer to Table C2.1.

14 6.86

Basic health assessment only

Koala was a juvenile and was considered too young to undertake a thorough health examination involving anaesthesia or separated from the mother before a detailed examination could be carried out.

27 13.24

Total 204 100

Wildcare Australia koala rescues for 2011 and 2012 Twenty-one koalas were rescued from the project area by Wildcare Australia during 2011 and 2012. Of these rescues, eight were the result of vehicle strike, five were due to disease or ill health, four due to other injuries, two from domestic dog attacks, and two were orphaned young. Two additional koalas were checked, but left in-situ (see Figure C2.1).

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Disease -Chlamydia

Disease -Other

Unwell Injury - dogattack

Injury -Drowning/near

drowning

Injury - Other Injury - roadtrauma

Observation /check only

Orphaned

Reason for reporting

Num

ber o

f ani

mal

s

DeceasedEuthanasedNo rescueReleased

Figure C2.1 Reasons for koala call-outs and rescues by Wildcare Australia for the project area in 2011 and 2012.


The health assessments raise serious concerns regarding the overall health of the local koala population, particularly in relation to chlamydial infection. Chlamydia test swabs were collected for each of the examined koalas from both eyes and from the urogenital tract, and from a urine sediment sample when the project veterinarian was in attendance. On a few occasions a rectal swab or nasal swab was taken on the basis of clinical examination. Twenty-six per cent (n = 46) of the examined koalas from East Coomera tested Clearview positive for Chlamydia from one or more of the swab sites on their initial health examination. Seventy-four per cent (n = 123) of koalas did not test Clearview positive for Chlamydia on first examination, although ten showed clinical signs during their health assessment. An additional two koalas appeared to have previously suffered a cystitis infection that had resolved. Following a period of in-situ monitoring at East Coomera, nine of the 123 koalas that initially tested Clearview negative tested positive at one or more swab sites. Thirty per cent of the sampled female koalas (21 out of 70) tested positive for Chlamydia, compared to 32 per cent of the sampled males (25 out of 78) at first examination. Koalas were either too young for sampling or Clearview test results were still being compiled for 17 per cent (n = 35) of the captures from East Coomera. These results support the notion that high levels of chlamydial infection pose a serious threat to the koala population in the project area, particularly when combined with impacts from other diseases, trauma from vehicle collisions and domestic dog attacks.

C3 Habitat Conservation

Current Planning Scheme While the Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera is not referenced in the current planning scheme, several mechanisms could help protect koalas in conjunction with future development in the project area. For example: conditions or advice notes to applicants in relation to Local Law 12 outlining requirements and responsibilities in relation to domestic dogs possible prohibition on keeping of domestic dogs in critical situations by applying a covenant prohibition on keeping of domestic dogs by condition of approval for body corporate developments only.

New Planning Scheme The City Plan 2015 should contain specific provisions to help protect koalas and koala habitat including: amendment to overlay mapping if necessary to ensure the Priority Koala Conservation Precinct (PKCP) is addressed amendment to the Nature Conservation Code and Policy 8 (Guidelines for Preparing Ecological Assessments) to include minimum search effort and standard methodology for koala surveys.

Vegetation Management Specific Development Code The Vegetation Management Specific Development Code (VMSDC) in the current Gold Coast Planning Scheme is used to assess vegetation clearing applications. Under the Code, damage to protected vegetation is generally prohibited unless permitted by the local law for actions such as creating or maintaining fire breaks of certain sizes or to prevent hazards when vegetation is close to structures or subject to a sustainable harvesting program approved under another Act. Vegetation clearing permits are required for all other damage to protected vegetation. The VMSDC defines protected vegetation as vegetation that is: equal to or in excess of 40 centimetres in girth, measured at 1.3 metres above average ground level, or equal to or in excess of four metres in height (in areas zoned rural, park residential or future urban), or subject of a vegetation protection order.

The code also contains provisions regarding the protection of habitats for rare and threatened flora and fauna listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. The koala habitat mapping and field surveys for East Coomera will help City planning officers to retain important koala habitat under the VMSDC where it hasn't been previously addressed as part of a development application.


Planning Scheme Policy 8 Guidelines for Ecological Assessments Planning Policy 8 provides guidelines for identifying ecologically significant areas (ESA) on any given development site. The guidelines include minimum survey effort for fauna and flora detection and criteria for defining an ESA. Proposed amendments to Policy 8 are currently under review in conjunction with work on the new Planning Scheme. Minimum detection methodology for most fauna groups (taxa) are outlined within the policy. However, on-site detection of koalas is generally reliant on opportunistic observations of koalas, scats, or scratch marks on trees. There is no requirement for applicants to undertake systematic surveys for koala presence through the use of survey methods such as strip transects or the SAT nor is there a specified minimum effort. To assist with reliable detection of koalas within the LGA, Policy 8 should include minimum survey requirements for areas large enough or likely to support koalas. Guidance should also be included to outline minimum habitat protection and threat minimisation requirements for the koala to help ensure their persistence.

Voluntary conservation measures Programs for consideration by private land owners include voluntary conservation agreements and land for wildlife programs offered by the City and the Koala Nature Refuges (KNR) program offered by the State Government. Properties must meet set criteria relating to the size of the property, the amount and quality of native vegetation/habitat, and the area of land suitable for koala habitat restoration in order to be eligible to apply for these programs.

Planning Guidelines Reference should also be made to the Planning Guidelines for Koala Conservation and Recovery (McAlpine et al. 2007) and Appendix 3 when undertaking local-scale koala conservation planning for the project area.

C4 Dog Management

Legislation The City regulates domestic animal ownership through Local Law 12 Keeping and Control of Animals and Subordinate Local Law 12. While the local law provides the legal framework, the subordinate local law provides specific details for domestic animal management and compliance. Local Law 12 and Subordinate Local Law 12 are being amended to include a koala conservation provision (Part 4, Division 3, Local Law 12), which allows for Council to prescribe specific requirements for keeping domestic dogs on land that is within a designated koala area or koala habitat area. Potential provisions for koala conservation may be included in a follow up amendment to Subordinate Local Law 12 to specify requirements relating to the enclosure in which the dog must be kept between sunset and sunrise, tethering of the dog between sunset and sunrise to prevent an attack, fencing to separate dogs from koalas, or other measures to prevent an attack on a koala between sunset and sunrise. The full excerpt of the Local Law 12 Koala Conservation provision is shown below and is expected to be endorsed by Council within the next 12 months:


Local law 12 Part 4 Division 3 Section 33 - Proper Enclosures and Koala Conservation The local government may, by subordinate local law, prescribe requirements for keeping a dog on land that is within a koala area. The prescribed requirements may relate to: the enclosure in which the dog must be kept between sunset and sunrise; or tethering the dog between sunset and sunrise to prevent it from attacking a koala; or fencing that must be in place to separate dogs from koalas on the land or on a part of the land; or other measures that will be likely to prevent an attack by the dog on a koala between sunset and sunrise.

A person who keeps a dog on land that is within a koala area must comply with requirements prescribed under this section. Maximum penalty for subsection (3) - 20 penalty units. In this section: koala area means: a koala habitat area; or an area designated by subordinate local law as a koala area.

koala habitat area means an area designated as a koala habitat by: a conservation plan made under the Nature Conservation Act 1992; or a State planning instrument.

Pet owners should be encouraged to report attacks on koalas as soon as possible. Even minor encounters can prove fatal to a koala where puncture wounds are inflicted. A quick response from Wildcare Australia could prevent life threatening infection. Information and guidance on how to prevent another attack from occurring can be provided to the pet owner. Conditions of development approval Conditions of approval could be used to manage ownership of domestic animals within a development with a general condition of approval or by registering an environmental covenant restricting domestic animals. Domestic animal restrictions are generally placed on community title development where a central body corporate monitors and imposes the conditions. While only a small number of developments on the Gold Coast have this condition imposed (mostly community title developments such as Currumbin EcoVillage or Kirribilli Heights), there may be future opportunities to manage ownership of domestic dogs within a designated koala area. Less imposing conditions of approval could include an advice note where the developer would be responsible for informing all purchasing land owners of specific pet ownership obligations within a designated Koala Area. Community awareness and education Community education and awareness programs are crucial to guide koala conservation and domestic animal management. Existing and future programs to assist with education and information distribution include: Notification on property titles for designated koala areas When purchasing property, the property title often contains notifications issued by the City or the State Government advising of obligations relating to the property, such as the presence of easements, planning and building issues, slope sensitive areas and waste water management. Environmental and conservation notifications can also be applied to property titles, such as Environmental Covenant information or the location of important conservation sites on a property. A standard notification for properties located within a designated koala area could inform property owners of their obligations under Local Law 12 and Subordinate Local Law 12 regarding domestic dogs and koala interactions. When issuing conditions of approval for a development, a development assessment officer may request a notification be issued within the approved memo. The responsible town planning officer will then require that a notification be included. All development assessment officers must be informed of designated koala areas to ensure comprehensive coverage.


The process for placing notifications on properties outside of the development assessment process would require a Council Resolution including a schedule of properties affected by the notification, reasons for the notification, and steps taken to contact or educate residents receiving the notification. Information material with dog registration renewal Renewal packages for domestic animal registration are presently accompanied by information on responsible pet ownership. A specific brochure could be developed to accompany animal registration for areas near bushland koala habitat. Pet Expo The City presents an annual Pet Expo with attendance of around 24,000 people. Information on koala conservation could include: property scale maps identifying designated koala areas detailed enclosure and fencing guidelines and requirements Local Law and Subordinate Law information sessions koala ecology, biology and conservation status specific details about local koala populations advertising of voluntary programs such as koala survey days, koala friends program, voluntary environmental covenants, Land for Wildlife.

Gold Coast Shows The City’s Animal Management Unit provides information and awareness material regarding pet ownership at most Gold Coast shows. Additional koala conservation information could be developed for these events. Just Walk Me Program The City’s Animal Management Unit’s ‘Just Walk Me’ program allows residents to meet with City staff and ask questions regarding responsible pet ownership. While the events are focused on health, activity and behavioural issues, it provides an opportunity to distribute information regarding pet interactions with koalas. The event is held at different parks on the Gold Coast every Sunday morning. Koala Friends Program A Koala Friends Program targeting residents within koala habitat areas should be performance based to attract committed community members. Membership could be awarded to a pet owner who takes measures to ensure their backyard is ‘koala safe’. Criteria would be developed to assess a property, such as presence of an enclosure/fencing, tethering arrangements, koala escape routes, safe swimming pools or smaller dog breeds. Internal Awareness and Cooperation Several existing programs and processes within the City that will assist in achieving koala conservation objectives. Most require resources, responsibility and cooperation from several sections within the City. The main internal stakeholders include: PET Environmental Planning and Conservation (City Planning) PET Environmental Planning (City Development) PET Development Compliance CS Animal Management Unit OS Natural Areas Management Unit


Appendix 1: Actions table Actions Lead Priority Cost

Estimate 1 HABITAT CONSERVATION a Enhance the level of protection for Preferred Koala Tree

Species wherever they occur within the identified Priority Koala Conservation Precinct (PKCP).

CP CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Amend City Plan 2015 overlay code and mapping if necessary to ensure that it addresses the PKCP.


c Adopt the amended Nature Conservation Code and Policy 8 (Guidelines for Preparing Ecological Assessments) to include minimum search effort and methods for koala surveys in conjunction with finalisation of City Plan 2015.


d Continue to investigate and negotiate potential Voluntary Conservation Agreements and Land for Wildlife programs for suitable properties in the project area.


e Investigate critical habitat linkages within the PKCP and explore the feasibility of enhancing opportunities for safe koala dispersal under the Pacific Motorway in the western extent.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

f Further investigate the potential introduction of incentive-based measures to encourage voluntary conservation, management and restoration of koala habitat on private property.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

g Investigate inclusion of information regarding the presence of koala habitat on title search documentation.

CD MED OFFICER TIME

h Refer to the “Planning Guidelines for Koala Conservation and Recovery” (McAlpine et al. 2007) for city planning and development assessment purposes.

CP CD

MED OFFICER TIME

i Inspect conservation reserves and parklands that support koalas annually to document tree health and condition and determine if any remedial actions may be necessary.

EP NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME

2 HABITAT RESTORATION Identification of habitat restoration priorities a Prepare and maintain a prioritised list of potential koala habitat

restoration sites for the project area focused on the identified PKCP and areas identified as suitable for koala habitat rehabilitation.

EP NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Incorporate targeted koala habitat restoration measures for priority sites into standard restoration plans for City-managed properties in the project area and facilitate incorporate ion into rehabilitation planning for relevant covenant areas on private lands.

NAMU CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME

Budget and resource requirements c Utilise the list of priority koala habitat restoration sites for any

future City-based conservation offsetting programs. EP NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME

d Liaise with the State government to promote the list of priority koala habitat restoration sites for possible application of State koala conservation offsetting funds.


e Liaise with the Commonwealth Government regarding the delivery of koala habitat offsets that may be required under the EPBC Act.

EP NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME

f Monitor and apply for relevant grant applications for restoration projects on public lands in collaboration with suitable community groups or land management agencies.

NAMU EP

HIGH OFFICER TIME

Tree species selection g Utilise Preferred Koala Tree Species (see Part C1) for

revegetation (planting) projects where appropriate and facilitate NAMU CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME



through rehabilitation plans in conjunction with Development Applications, with the ultimate goal to restore degraded areas to original Regional Ecosystem types.

EP

h Prepare and promote guidelines for selection of sites for planting Preferred Koala Tree Species (see Part C1) in the project area to ensure suitable placement.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

Nursery stock i Propagate nursery stock for koala habitat restoration programs

in the project area from local provenance seed where possible, harvested from well-spaced parent trees known to have been utilised by koalas. Label seedlings produced in nurseries with collection sites.

NAMU MED OFFICER TIME + $4,000

3 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT a Wildcare Australia continue to keep comprehensive records for

koalas that come into their care for contribution towards ongoing population monitoring and conservation planning.

WA HIGH EXTERNAL

b Continue to maintain an accurate database for koala sighting records and promote the reporting line.


c Liaise with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to consider potential additional measures for City and State roads to reduce risks to koalas and improve road safety in the project area and surrounds. This action includes liaison and planning in relation to the planned Inter-regional Transport Corridor.


d Incorporate road design considerations into ecological assessment guidelines and relevant planning scheme codes.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

e Prepare road design checklist material for use by Environmental Planning officers in development assessment.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

f Regularly review Wildcare Australia rescue database and the City koala sightings database to identify any emerging road black spot areas and koala crossing locations.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

g Investigate emerging high risk areas with Engineering Services to evaluate possible further measures to decrease risks of koala vehicle strike.

EP ES

HIGH OFFICER TIME

h Implement additional mitigation measures and road signage in response to reviews and investigations f) and g) above.

EP ES


i Investigate potential measures to reduce access by koalas to roads in locations on the periphery of the intensively developed urban area during the first year of the conservation plan implementation. Trial exclusion fencing for one section.

EP ES


Measures for consideration subject to funding j Slower speed zones (50 km/hr) subject to provisions of

the Manual of Traffic Control Devices. Additional koala road signage or road threshold

treatments for emerging black spot areas where koalas frequently cross.

Possible upgraded signage with flashing lights at night if major black spot areas become apparent over time, subject to merits depending on the location.

Improved street lighting for drivers to see koalas at key crossing sites.

Changeable signs displaying key koala safety messages, including the number of days since a koala road incident (e.g., ‘100 days koala vehicle strike free’).

EP ES CD

MED TBD


4 DOG MANAGEMENT Local Law a Consider reviewing Subordinate Law 12 to designate (map)

koala areas for the project area and to prescribe requirements for keeping domestic dogs within a koala area. Note: any review would be submitted to Council for approval.

AMU EP

HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Consider preparing a standard title notification for properties located within a designated koala area and creating a standard dog ownership notification for subdivision applications to inform owners of the provisions of Local Law 12 and Subordinate Local Law 12.


Raising awareness c Continue to respond as soon as possible to complaints of

roaming domestic dogs in urban parts of the project area. AMU HIGH OFFICER

TIME d Follow-up on reported koala attacks by domestic dogs in the

project area where possible to help raise awareness and to discuss possible approaches to reduce risks of further attacks.

CP WA

HIGH OFFICER TIME + EXTERNAL

e Ensure that public reserves in koala areas are effectively sign-posted regarding dog provisions and the potential presence of koalas.

P&RS NAMU

HIGH OFFICER TIME + $4000

Conditions of development approval f Investigate options for domestic dog management within any

future designated koala areas, particularly in the case of community title development.

CP AMU CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME

g Consider including koala protection requirements within Community Management Schemes (CMS) with respect to community title applications.

CD EP

MED OFFICER TIME

5 FERAL ANIMAL MANAGEMENT a Continue to develop and implement wild dog and fox

management plans and to employ proactive management practices.


b Design and implement a wild dog monitoring program for bushland sites within the project area.


c Continue to maintain a Feral Animals Database together with Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping covering the project area.


6 BUSHFIRES a Ensure koalas and koala habitat are thoroughly considered in

the preparation of Strategic Bushfire Management Plans and Hazard Reduction Burn Plans.


b Ensure hazard reduction (HR) burns in areas known to support koalas and koala habitat are maintained at low intensity and managed to minimise risks to resident koalas.


c Liaise with local rural fire brigades in the project area to outline koala conservation requirements and how to identify if koalas are present during pre-burn inspections.

EP NAMU

LOW OFFICER TIME

d Map the extent of bushfires throughout the project area and record fire behaviour during HR burns in City reserves.

NAMU LOW OFFICER TIME

7 KOALA WELFARE a Continue to actively promote the information and reporting line

(1300 MY GCCC) and the Wildcare Australia 24-hour hotline for community members to report koala sightings.


b Continue to maintain accurate databases on koala health, threats and rescue locations.

EP WA

HIGH EXTERNAL

c Liaise with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital to discuss opportunities for trialling the Chlamydia vaccine through hospital admissions

EP CSWH



from the project area. d Liaise with Wildcare Australia to arrange for the rescue of sick

or injured koalas in the project area when required. EP WA

HIGH OFFICER TIME

e Continue to liaise with the development industry at East Coomera throughout remaining vegetation clearing operations.

EP CD

HIGH OFFICER TIME

8 COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS Website Material a Maintain and promote up-to-date koala conservation

information on City of Gold Coast website and social media. CC EP

HIGH OFFICER TIME

b Actively encourage community reports of wild dogs and foxes to the City’s Animal Management Unit.


Koala Friends Program c Initiate a Koala Friends Program for areas within and adjoining

the PKCP during the first year of the Koala Conservation Plan. EP HIGH OFFICER

TIME + $24,800

Environmental Education d Liaise with Dreamworld and Wildcare Australia to investigate

the feasibility of developing and hosting annual koala conservation education events.

EP WA

HIGH OFFICER TIME

e Develop education programs to increase community awareness of the importance of driving carefully in koala crossing areas and to promote responsible dog ownership, particularly in identified koala areas.

EP AMU CC


f Investigate the feasibility of promoting the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary koala conservation education program to schools in the project area.

CWS MED EXTERNAL

Telephone hold message and media liaison g Provide relevant information concerning koala conservation

issues on the City’s telephone hold recordings and liaise with local media concerning potential opportunities.

CC EP

LOW OFFICER TIME

9 FUNDING Identify potential opportunities for further collaboration on

identified actions and research partnerships. EP HIGH OFFICER

TIME b Identify potential external funding sources and prepare funding

applications. EP HIGH OFFICER

TIME 10 RESEARCH a Regularly review and prioritise potential koala research

projects for application to koala habitat and population management. This should be accompanied by investigations into possible external funding sources.

EP MED OFFICER TIME

b Maintain a library of koala research reports for the project area and add to Nature Conservation Strategy electronic database.

EP LOW OFFICER TIME

c Promote priority koala research to universities for potential post-graduate student projects. For example: research into potential longer term impacts of bushfires on

koalas and koala habitat research to improve knowledge of koala disease and to

increase knowledge for conservation planning.

EP CSWH

MED OFFICER TIME

11 MONITORING Koala habitat monitoring a Check against the most recent available imagery every two

years to help identify any incremental loss of habitat due to development activities and increases associated with habitat restoration programs for the project area, outside the current urban footprint.


b Maintain a register of potential discrepancies in the vegetation mapping, investigate these and make revisions to the koala habitat mapping where necessary.



c Investigate incorporation of koala habitat monitoring provisions into relevant covenants on private land.

CD EP

MED OFFICER TIME

Koala population monitoring d Coordinate an annual phone-in census for the project area in

conjunction with Wildcare Australia on a designated weekend each spring-summer.

EP CSWH WA

MED OFFICER TIME

e Continue to maintain a koala records database and identify any changes in the apparent distribution of koala sightings annually.


f Coordinate repeat transect-based koala searches for at least five monitoring sites plus Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) surveys for at least 10 sites every two years and interpret results against initial baseline surveys.


g Coordinate further detailed koala health examinations and undertake ongoing assessment of koala health within the project area.


h Coordinate reassessment of genetic diversity for the project area after three years, based on samples collected from koala captures, rescues and hospital admissions.

EP CSWH


i Coordinate updated koala Population Viability Analysis (PVA) modelling after three years.


Evaluation j Evaluate and document findings of the ongoing monitoring

program against the Performance Indicators, the extent to which actions have been implemented and their apparent effectiveness.


12 IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW a Undertake a full review of the performance of the Koala

Conservation Plan and consider further actions four years after adoption. Submit the review report to Council for consideration.


Note: The following abbreviations are used in the Conservation Actions Table: CP = City Planning Branch; CD = City Development Branch; EP = Environment Planning Team; NAMU = Natural Areas Management Unit; AMU = Animal Management Unit; CC = Corporate Communications Unit; ES = Engineering Services Directorate; P&RS = Parks & Recreational Services Unit; WA = Wildcare Australia; CSWH = Currumbin Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital; CWS = Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary; CM = Community members; QFRS = Queensland Fire & Rescue Service; PKCP = Priority Koala Conservation Precinct.


Appendix 2: Legislation and policy relevant to koala habitat conservation

Federal legislation Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The koala was listed as Vulnerable throughout Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in May 2012 under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Interim guidelines are available from the Australian Government Department of Environment to assist the proponents of intended activities including development proposals. The guidelines aim to help proponents in deciding whether or not a proposed action should be referred to the Commonwealth environment minister under the EPBC Act. The interim guidelines are to be read in conjunction with Significant Impact Guidelines 1.1 – Matters of National Environmental Significance. Any action likely to have a significant impact on koalas within Queensland must be referred to the Commonwealth environment minister for consideration prior to commencing. The minister will then determine whether the proposed actions would be classed as a controlled action triggering a more detailed assessment and approval process under the EPBC Act. A Draft Approval Bilateral Agreement has been prepared between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland under Sections 45 and 46 of the EPBC Act. The bilateral agreement would accredit Queensland processes under the EPBC Act for assessing proposed actions that are likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance. The City of Gold Coast currently issues a standard advice note to developers through the information request and approval process to alert applicants to their responsibilities under the EPBC Act: Note to Applicant – Koala populations in Queensland have recently been listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This listing came into legal effect on 2 May 2012. It is recommended that the applicant review these changes and resultant requirements at the following website, particularly where damage to, or removal of koala habitat trees is likely to occur. http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/pubs/bio240-0612-interim-koala-referral-advice.pdf State Government Policy Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 The Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 (the State Koala Plan) aims to:

promote the continued existence of viable koala populations in the wild prevent further decline in koala habitats provide for rehabilitation of cleared or disturbed koala habitats promote future land use and development activity that is compatible with survival of koala populations.

It seeks to achieve this purpose by mapping koala habitat areas and prescribing requirements for clearing vegetation in particular areas. Koala conservation criteria that apply to assessable development in koala habitat areas are set out in the Koala Management Program contained in the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016 that preceded the updated State Koala Plan. As a primary consent authority for development applications, key responsibilities for koala habitat conservation rest with local government and the relevant local planning instruments. State Planning Policy July 2014 State Planning Policy July 2014 (SPP) recognises the importance of conserving Australian icons such as the koala and makes provision under the State interest – biodiversity section for considering matters of national environmental significance (such as the koala) and state environmental significance (including facilitation of a net gain in koala bushland habitat in the SEQ region) when making or amending a planning scheme or designating land for community infrastructure. Mapping of koala bushland habitat is embedded within the matters of state environmental significance (MSES) – wildlife habitat layer provided on the SPP interactive mapping system.

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/pubs/bio240-0612-interim-koala-referral-advice.pdf


Environmental Offsets Act 2014 The Environmental Offsets Act 2014 seeks to coordinate Queensland’s environmental offsets framework, under a whole-of-government approach that replaces five existing policies (including the Offsets for Net Gain in Koala Habitat in South East Queensland Policy). The Environmental Offsets Act 2014 is supported by the Environmental Offsets Policy July 2014 and the Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014. Local government can provide for environmental offsets where the local planning scheme identifies matters of local environmental significance MLES and is consistent with the Environmental Offsets Act 2014. Regional Vegetation Management Code and Essential Koala Habitat Mapping The State Government also regulates clearing of remnant and regrowth vegetation through the Vegetation Management Act 1999, Vegetation Management Regulation 2012, and the Regional Vegetation Management Code. Certain types of development proposing the clearing of native vegetation can trigger an assessment against the Regional Vegetation Management Code, with local government authorities referring each triggered applications to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection for consideration in addition to any local government vegetation/threatened species habitat assessment requirements. While the Code deals predominately with management of vegetation, mapping and performance criteria for both remnant and regrowth vegetation also includes the identification and protection of Essential Threatened Species Habitat. Several performance criteria within the Code require areas of essential habitat to be maintained, or losses to be reasonably prevented. Essential threatened species habitat mapping is quite coarse in scale and can be disputed by an applicant. For example, an applicant may have failed to find evidence of the species utilising the area and hence some provisions for protection may not apply. It is therefore considered highly important to ensure that adequate detection methods are identified and utilised.

City of Gold Coast Nature Conservation Strategy 2009-2019 The City’s Nature Conservation Strategy, Strategic Outcome 3 for Conservation of Biodiversity includes the following actions relevant to koala conservation planning: include provisions within the Nature Conservation Code relating to koala conservation in response to the East Coomera Koala Conservation Project and city-wide koala habitat mapping and assessment develop threatened species recovery and management plans (including the koala) implement research, monitoring and management recommendations for high priority species.

The above actions are currently being progressed by the City of Gold Coast. Nature Conservation Constraint Code and Overlay Map 20 Conservation Strategy Plan The Nature Conservation Constraint Code (NCCC) is in Part 7, Division 3, Chapter 10 of the current Gold Coast Planning Scheme and consists of several performance criteria designed to protect ecologically valued areas within the City of Gold Coast. Together with the Overlay Map 20 Conservation Strategy Plan, the NCCC classifies Ecologically Significant Areas (ESAs) into five categories:

1. large habitat systems and foothill buffers 2. major linkages (water and land based) 3. significant remnants and bushland mosaics 4. existing remnant vegetation and other natural areas 5. major areas of bushland committed to development.

ESAs are defined in Appendix 4 and 5 of the Policy 8 Guidelines for Ecological Assessments. ESAs are generally identified as areas containing listed threatened species at international, federal, state and local levels as well as City nature conservation reserves and vegetation protection orders. Hence, koala habitats could be treated as ESAs. NCCC provisions for conserving ESAs include: retaining the area through lot size, design and layout restricting development to already cleared or degraded areas using building envelopes to restrict development footprints developing consolidated and compact nodes minimising habitat fragmentation or provision for ecological corridors


buffering significant areas dedicating land to the City registering an environmental covenant.

Most protected ESAs tend to be managed in perpetuity via dedication of the area to the City or registration of an environmental covenant. An environmental covenant is a legally binding agreement tied to the title of a property and identifies the ESA on site. Conditions and requirements can be attached to an environmental covenant and may include the restriction of domestic animals, vegetation protection and rehabilitation. As land owners are ultimately responsible for the protection of ESAs under an environmental covenant, the viability and effectiveness of this option is currently subject to review by the City. The provisions in the NCCC contain adequate principles for protection; however, ecological consultants can propose alternate corridor and buffer widths for an ESA or challenge the existence or validity of an ESA onsite. Some areas that contain important threatened species habitat may also be designated for residential or industrial land use. In instances of conflicting land use, outcomes to achieve both uses are usually sought, which may compromise the protection of ESAs onsite. Local Law 6 Vegetation Management Changes to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA) have required that all vegetation clearing applications be assessed under the planning scheme as an operational works application. Recent changes to the Local Government Act 2009 have enabled local governments to make changes to their local laws. Amendments are currently proposed to align Local Law 6 with the provisions of SPA and those within the planning scheme. Currently all vegetation clearing applications are assessed under the planning scheme. Local Law 6 Vegetation Management contains provisions for a local government to make a Vegetation Protection Order (VPO) to protect vegetation on freehold land within the LGA. The order can relate to either particular trees, groups of trees, trees of a specified class, or all trees within a specified location or area. Grounds for making a VPO could include facilitating the protection of threatened flora or ecosystems, habitat for threatened fauna (listed under the State Nature Conservation Act 1992), vegetation defined under the planning scheme as being large habitat system or major linkage, vegetation of historical/cultural/visual significance and vegetation that is important for erosion prevention. Hence, koala habitat and/or individual preferred koala habitat trees could be nominated for protection under a VPO.


Appendix 3: Guidelines for prioritising habitat areas for protection The following considerations are based on Planning Guidelines for Koala Conservation and Recovery - a guide to best planning practice prepared by the University of Queensland, Australian Koala Foundation and the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (McAlpine et al. 2007). They have been addressed in the process of identifying koala habitat areas across the Gold Coast LGA and support a number of proposed actions.

Habitat Thresholds: Evidence from Noosa Shire indicates that the probability of koalas being present falls as the percentage of the landscape containing forest communities (including preferred koala habitat) falls below ~ 40 to 60 per cent. These percentages provide useful overall targets for habitat protection and restoration.

Patch size: Evidence from fragmented coastal landscapes in Noosa Shire indicated critical patch size

requirements, with koalas 50 per cent less likely to be present in patches less than around 50 hectares. There was also some evidence to suggest that the chance of koalas being present starts to decline once patches become smaller than around 150 hectares. Hence, priority should be given to protecting patches of preferred koala habitat larger than around 50 hectares, unless part of a cluster of highly connected patches.

Patch shape: Habitat patches should ideally be more circular than linear to minimise edge effects. Edge

effects might affect koalas by, for example, increasing the risks of predation by roaming dogs or decreasing the health of preferred food trees. As habitat patches become smaller, the amount of edge, relative to the area of each patch (the perimeter-area ratio) increases. Therefore, small patches are generally more subject to edge effects than large patches. For a given patch size, the amount of edge is smallest for a circular shape, but largest for a narrow linear shape.

Connectivity: If habitat patches are close enough for koalas to move freely between them they may be

adequately connected for koalas, providing there are no major barriers such as roads, fences; or threats such as wild dogs, roaming domestic dogs or traffic.

In general, koalas would be expected to undertake regular home range movements between habitat patches if they are separated by distances no greater than around 100 metres and provided there are no significant barriers or threats. Although koalas are relatively mobile, isolation of patches can be an important predictor of koala occurrence, with koalas more likely to occur in patches close to other patches than in isolated patches. Programs to maintain or enhance connectivity should aim for a network of larger habitat patches linked by corridors at least 100 metres wide, but preferably wider to minimise edge effects. Small and highly isolated populations tend to suffer higher extinction risks than connected populations. Immigration or recruitment into a population can provide a ‘rescue’ effect and can help maintain genetic diversity. The survival of meta-populations (a group of sub-populations connected by dispersal) relies on the ability of animals to recolonise habitat patches where a sub-population has become locally extinct. While habitat patches that are further apart are often considered less connected than patches close together, connectivity also depends upon the nature of the matrix (i.e. the most extensive landscape element, generally cleared areas between vegetated patches in highly fragmented landscapes), and the existence of barriers to movement.


Appendix 4: References Biolink. 2007a. Koala Population and Habitat Assessment for Gold Coast City LGA. Report prepared for the

City of Gold Coast. Biolink. 2007b. Conserving Koalas in the Coomera-Pimpama Koala Habitat Area: a view to the future.

Report prepared for the City of Gold Coast. Chenoweth EPLA and Bushland Restoration Services. 2012. South East Queensland Ecological Restoration

Framework: Guideline. Prepared on behalf of SEQ Catchments and South East Queensland Local Governments, Brisbane.

Ecosure. 2013. Burleigh Heads koala assessment and city-wide monitoring advice. Report prepared for the City of Gold Coast.

McAlpine, C.A., Rhodes, J., Peterson, A., Possingham, H.P., Callaghan, J., Curran, T., Mitchell, D. and Lunney, D. 2007. Planning guidelines for koala conservation and recovery. University of Queensland. Brisbane.

Phillips, S. and Callaghan, J. 2011. The Spot Assessment Technique: a tool for determining localised levels of habitat use by Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus. Australian Zoologist 35(3):774-780.

Seddon, J. 2014. Koala Genetic Analysis – East Coomera and Lower Beechmont Conservation Area. University of Queensland. Brisbane. Report prepared for the City of Gold Coast.

Documents

Koala Conservation Plan for East Coomera