Koala’s endangered status – reactions

Koala mum in G.J. Walter Park next to Toondah Harbour, recently – 📷 Chris Walker

Koalas in Queensland, NSW and the ACT have been listed as endangered by Federal environment minister Sussan Ley.

“We are taking unprecedented action to protect the koala, working with scientists, medical researchers, veterinarians, communities, states, local governments and Traditional Owners,” Minister Ley said.

The Federal Government’s recognition that koalas are endangered provoked several letters to Redlands2030 with letter writers raising questions about what difference the endangered listing will mean for koalas living in the Redlands.

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Endangered koalas an election issue

Should we be asking our Labor and LNP candidates how the destruction of one of the few remnants of koala habitat in the Redlands will be helped by building the proposed 3,600 units and water park at Toondah Harbour on their remaining homes??? 

How will the endangered status of koalas be reflected if permission is given to build the mega residential development and destroy the remains of natural habitat? 

If the announcement is not to be just another hot air announcement it is essential the Federal Environmental Minister provides guidance in respect to this unwanted land grab by yet more builders. 

Ms Ley’s announcement would also help to protect the as yet not defined additional infrastructure which will further remove more of the natural koala habitat in the vicinity.

Much of the infrastructure (roads, schools etc) has yet to be built in other parts of the Redlands further destroying any chance of koalas surviving in the Redlands? 

P.R.
Cleveland

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Endangered status not surprising

The listing of koalas as endangered in NSW and Queensland has been predicted by the scientists for years and years, but sadly the political wheels turn much more slowly.

This long delay in the endangered listing has allowed more housing development, more clearing for infrastructure, more clearing for mining, quarries and agriculture and even more logging of native forests. So we watch koala numbers tumble as destruction of their habitat and inadequate legal and environmental protection push them to the brink of extinction.

And therein lies the real tragedy for koalas and other wildlife. We can repair and replace roads, buildings, pipelines and powerlines but it takes decades and more to reconstitute a sustainable koala habitat, and the science shows that there’s no certainty it will actually happen.

All too often political decisions and development pressures have sidelined the science in favour of other priorities, yet now – here’s the irony – we are being told to wait for the science in the decision about the Toondah Harbour scheme and Toondah koalas as though the science has just been discovered.

Planning for the Toondah Harbour project was done by the State government and the Redland City Council. Local MPs and the elected councillors must have been aware of the existence and status of the Toondah koalas.  Why weren’t the implications of this planning for koalas made crystal clear throughout the public consultation phase? Why did the destruction of Toondah koala habitat have to be sold as some sort of rational trade-off for a residential development?

There were important decisions about the future of koala populations for Council and the State government to address. Yet regrettably despite the knowns and the science they failed.  Open and adequate public consultation should have revealed to the community the real trade-offs and risks. 

If the science was known and should have been used to fully inform the public, how can the community now be expected to trust government to listen to the science?

D.F.
Cleveland

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Toondah Harbour’s endangered koalas

I am wondering if the Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, is going to stop the Toondah Harbour development and its 3,600 units in Cleveland.

This is a Ramsar protected wetland and the Government seems to have ignored that fact. But now Minister Ley has listed the koala as endangered.

My initial reaction is “its better late than never”. The listing seems to be well overdue but adds a significant weight to her pending decision about Toondah. It seems she has no option but to stop the Toondah PDA. But I’m guessing that isn’t a forgone outcome.

If the Minister is really serious about protecting habitats, biodiversity and environmental values then stopping Toondah would be a good start. After all a small number of our endangered koalas live there.

I implore the Minister to take the next step to protect the koalas and that is to save their Toondah habitat.

J.F.  
Point Lookout

Koalas are heritage for humanity

I’m writing again from Italy because I read  the Redland City Bulletin story by Emily Lowe and I agree with what is stated by KAG President Debbie Pointing – that more effort from all levels of government was needed to protect koalas on the bayside.

When Federal Minister Sussan Ley declared koala as “endangered” this news went around the world because koalas are an iconic species loved everywhere – they are a heritage for humanity.

Sadly this endangered classification will not save koalas from extinction, as has been said by all the experts and major  organizations (e.g. WWF Australia, AKF, IWAF) if the destruction of their habitat is not stopped immediately.

Habitat loss and climate change are the main threats to koalas. Offsets don’t work! 

How will Australia’s economy survive when koala tourism dollars estimated to be valued at $3.5 billion per year are no long coming into the country because critical koala habitat has been systematically destroyed, and every last one of Australia’s koalas have been wiped out in less than 30 years?

Seventy-five per cent of inbound tourists hope to see a koala when making the decision to come to Australia! It is a unique and unforgettable experience! . A photograph with a koala is a must-have souvenir for us international tourists and knowing that koalas are surviving and thriving in the wild is a crucial part of this international interest.

After the declaration as “Endangered”, ACTIONS are needed by all three levels of government:

– Stop the plans for 3,600 apartments at Toondah Harbour  wiping out the healthy colony of koalas living in coastal areas of Cleveland;

– Stop Karreman Quarries plan to destroy another 50 hectares of koala habitat in Mount Cotton;

– Redland City Council must protect habitat koala, stop clearing trees in urban areas where koalas live and revise its vision for the Birkdale Community Precinct.

Brisbane and Redlands will have the Olympics in 2032  but will visitors still see koalas in the wild? Extinction is forever!

Your Governments will be accountable to Australians and the international community.

The world is watching so act now – before it’s too late.

P.T.
KLM – Koala lives matter (FB)
Italy

More Letters To Redlands2030

Democracy, Development And Density In Letters To Redlands2030

Cleveland traffic, ‘religious instruction’ and Toondah in letters

Koalas, Donations And Toondah Harbour In Letters To Redlands2030

Have your say

If you have something to say, send your letter to: theeditor@redlands2030.net

Redlands2030 – 18 February 2022