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The first of 20,000 new trees have been planted at Schuster Park in Tallebudgera as part of a Gold Coast City Council initiative to support and protect koalas aross the region.

The first of 2500 trees in Schuster Park planted in an identified koala priority area by St Andrews College students are part of a $10.85 million fund for koala habitat protection established by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

To create the fund, ratepayers will contribute $3 per annum to a special koala levy, starting from this financial year. Around $800,000 will be raised next financial year with Council planning to borrow the additional $10 million to fund ‘koala land’ purchases.

Mayor Tate recently stated he was delighted the Koala Fund had gained support with Councillors, commenting “we will be able to purchase habitat important for koalas. When we acquire it, that land won’t be simply locked away. Instead, we will invest in infrastructure that will help the koala survive and thrive.”

The importance of koalas within the Gold Coast has long been recognised and, as such, management of populations and habitat has been incorporated into the City’s various policies and strategies including the City Plan, and the recently endorsed Our Natural City Strategy and Koala Conservation Plan.

Mayor Tate added “we are looking at ways to improve habitat coverage and condition, decrease koala injuries and fatalities caused by domestic and pest animals, and manage threats from traffic and bushfire, which are priority actions within the City’s Koala Conservation Plan.

“For example, if a land purchase adjoins a busy road, we would look to install protective measures as we know that vehicle strikes are a major cause of koala injury and death.

“The other big issue facing koalas are domestic dogs so we will look at what measures can be undertaken to keep domestic dogs away from these koala areas. This starts with dog owners, not allowing their animals to roam free and savage our beautiful koala.’’

Key areas Council will look to acquire land include Coomera and Pimpama.

Gold Coast ratepayers already contribute annually to an Open Space Maintenance and Enhancement Separate Charge (OSMESC). This supports a wide range of activities and initiatives to manage and maintain the city’s natural asset network. Council-managed natural area estates have doubled since 2006 and now cover around 13,652 hectares.

Images: Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate; Gold Coast Planning Chair, Councillor Cameron Caldwell and General Manager of Dreamworld’s Life Sciences Division Al Mucci promote koala conservation (top) and Mayor Tate with one of the endangered marsupials (below).

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We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

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