Koala protection in south-east Queensland to be shaped by new strategy
The public has been invited to have their say on the best strategies to protect south-east Queensland's koala population. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)
In short:
The Queensland government is asking the public for input on a new strategy to protect koala populations in the south-east.
A Koala Ministerial Advisory Council will be appointed as part of the strategy.
What's next?
A discussion paper will be open to the public until March 15 next year.
Queenslanders have been invited to have their say on how best to protect the koala population in the state's south-east.
The Crisafulli government announced on Tuesday it would establish a Koala Ministerial Advisory Council as part of a new strategy to protect the iconic species.
Advocates have previously warned that south-east Queensland's koala population could soon become extinct with fewer than 16,000 left in the wild in the region.
The advisory council will bring together voices from industry, science, local government, property and conservation and will be chaired by Queensland's environment minister Andrew Powell.
Environment Minister Andrew Powell will chair a new council to advise on koala strategy and its rollout. (ABC News: Cameron Lang)
A discussion paper will be open until March 15 giving members of the public the opportunity to have their say on the koala strategy.
Mr Powell said the government wants to leave "no stone unturned" in developing solutions to protect the koala population.
"We want to look at habitat protection, habitat restoration, monitoring, mapping [and] the health of koalas," he said.
"Koalas are part of who we are as Queenslanders, and we're determined to protect them for generations to come."
This orphaned female koala, 'Piglet', was raised and then released by Endeavour Veterinary Ecology. (ABC News: Cameron Lang)
An 'early Christmas present' for koalas
The announcement includes a $950,000 funding boost for Gold Coast-based service Endeavour Veterinary Ecology (EVE).
CEO Michael Hornby said the announcement was an "early Christmas present" for the koalas of the northern Gold Coast.
The organisation's work includes chlamydia treatment and monitoring rehabilitated and released koalas.
Endeavour Veterinary Ecology's Michael Hornby said there is an opportunity to reverse the decline of the koala population in the south-east. (ABC News: Cameron Lang)
Mr Hornby said the organisation had successfully treated a local population of more than 120 koalas in Pimpama for chlamydia.
He said the entire population had been infected with the disease.
"It's highly likely that this site otherwise could have become a koala graveyard," he said.
"Now it is arguably Australia's healthiest koala population, and that's something to be proud of."
The population has also taken part in a recent chlamydia vaccine trial developed by researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
EVE researchers monitor koalas for chlamydia and other diseases. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
"We know that every dollar being invested today in this kind of work will probably give us ten years' worth of returns," he said.
"It's more than a one-site operation," Mr Hornby said. "It's a change in the wind."
Mr Powell said he wants to see the success of EVE's program replicated.
"We want to find other projects around south-east Queensland that produce just as good, if not better, results."
The Koala Ministerial Advisory Council will hold its first meeting in early 2026.
Mr Powell said a Koala Strategy would be delivered by the middle of next year.