May2014_Lawnton Lakes Estate – THE DEATH KNELL FOR LOCAL KOALAS

The Lawnton Lakes Estate development project was approved by Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) in 2005.  No considerations were given to the koalas and other native wildlife utilising this site.  The vegetation consisted of primary species such as the Blue Gum with predominantly secondary species of koala food trees dominating the site.

 

Koala Action Inc. (KAI) members visited the site over many years and determined that local koalas used the site for food and shelter whilst moving from locations around the Amcor Petrie Mill/Wyllie Park area and along the North Pine River for the purposes of seeking mates.  This site also provided a relatively safe vegetative buffer for sub adults to move from their mother’s home range to find a place of their own.  

Now almost all the vegetation has been cleared to the ground leaving isolated clumps of trees along the edge of the river and on Lawnton Pocket Road.  Over 40 koalas have been displaced into these trees as nothing is available for them elsewhere.  Severe defoliation is taking place which may well destroy these remaining trees resulting in the death and/or injury of these koalas from starvation or dog predation and/or motor vehicle strikes when the koalas have to move on.  To date 3 koalas have been killed on Lawnton Pocket Road since the clearing commenced.  

Lawnton Lakes Estate is part of the urban footprint where according to the State Planning Policy at least 15 dwellings per hectare can be erected.  Surrounding the site is high density residential development with few koala food tree species remaining.  These koalas will just become statistics if left to their own devices, so a solution to this problem must be found.  These koalas will have no future without human intervention. 

 

MBRC, DEHP (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection), DTMR (Department of Transport and Main Roads) and Endeavour Veterinary Ecology met on 3/4/14 regarding the artificially high number of koalas present in vegetation adjacent to the Pine River in Lawnton.  Warning signs have been placed in the locality by MBRC.  KAI is grateful that DEHP has authorised MBRC to relocate these koalas to suitable release sites but we have not been advised as to how, when or where these relocations will be done.  

Koalas have a shared social structure which must be considered when relocating as well as specific nutritional needs.  KAI members are concerned that relocations will be undertaken by Council without fully bearing in mind the many issues that need to be addressed to ensure a successful outcome.  Some of these issues include the right balance of primary and secondary food tree species; the need for canopy cover of shelter trees; wild dog predation; sites within the urban footprint already support displaced koalas and may not provide for the needs of additional animals; clearing within the urban footprint will continue to escalate making relocations into urban areas questionable and foolhardy.  

Koalas and the habitat upon which they depend have little protection despite the Federal Listing of Koalas as Vulnerable in Qld, NSW and ACT.  KAI believes that MBRC cannot achieve a successful relocation conclusion without seeking a collaborative response by utilising past and present scientific expertise provided by those koala researchers known to have undertaken this type of work before.  Only then can MBRC ensure a future for those koalas displaced by urban development within the region.  The only other option is extinction which is forever.