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“Our updated koala strategy is being finalised and due for release soon, it will outline our plan to protect and expand koala habitat across the state and ensure we double our koala population by 2050,” he said.
Earlier this year, koalas came into sharp focus as the state’s Liberal and National parties fought over new regulation of koala habitat, with the Nationals determined not to allow increased controls over critical habitat that is privately owned.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital president Sue Ashton said the loss of habitat was the biggest killer for koalas.
“The [inquiry] report said we would lose them by 2050, but I think we will lose them sooner if we don’t act now,” she said. “As Port Macquarie sprawls and becomes a city, we are losing more and more of their habitat.”
Alaine Anderson, pictured in 2017, said in the 45 years she’s lived on her property, she’s rescued dozens of koalas. Credit:Nick Moir
Northern NSW Croppa Creek farmer and WIRES member Alaine Anderson said in the 45 years she’s lived on her property, she’s rescued dozens of koalas. As she nears retirement and is looking to leave the area, she worries the next owners may not be as diligent in protecting the local fauna and flora.
Ms Anderson wants to see tree corridors planted to connect properties and more wildlife hospitals in the area. At the moment, the closest wildlife hospital is about five hours from where she lives.
“I am so tired of writing letters, I’ve written dozens and dozens of them,” she said. “But we’ve got to keep educating people.”
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said the government’s plan to double koala numbers by 2050 was not “genuine because they have no plan to protect the remaining koala habitat so necessary to achieve this goal”.
“I am constantly being contacted by locals who are fighting to protect important koala habitat that is set to be logged or cleared for development,” she said. “If the government is serious about stopping koalas from going extinct, let alone doubling their population, then it must act to protect every last bit of koala habitat we have left.”
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