The article by Brian Williams in the Courier Mail for 29 May 2009 is sobering reading. It also provides an opportunity for any concerned resident to comment with information of their own experiences.Dear Minister Garrett and Premier Bligh,
The Australian Koala Foundation's threatened species nomination of the Queensland Koala Coast koala population has been lodged and finally the Queensland Government has released the document which shows the koala population for this region should be listed as Critically Endangered.
You will decide the fate of our Australian icon in this vital region.
The Queensland Government has now proved more than ever that it cannot be trusted to protect these koalas and I understand you have, under Section 517 of the EPBC Act the ability to step in and protect it once you take advice from your scientific committee. Why don't you do that?
With 1700 endangered and vulnerable species on the Federal Government waiting list and no recovery plans in sight, the protection of koala forests on the east coast of Australia would make your job so much easier. Think of the conservation, social and economic benefits!
Protecting existing trees is what the koalas need.
Mr Garrett, list the Koala Coast koala population as critically endangered and the national population as vulnerable, and finally afford our national icon some meaningful protection from the Federal Government.
Yours sincerely,
A Koala Campaigner
You can email the letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or if you'd prefer you can copy, paste, personalise the letter with your own comments, print, sign & post the letter above to:
The Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP
Australian Labor Party, PO Box 6022
House of Representatives Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, 2600
Please also ask a question and add that you would like a response to your question. A request for information on the release of the National Koala Strategy is also appropriate.
Please also send a copy cc The Australian Koala Foundation This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Koalas in parts of Logan City are part of the Koala Coast population and they are under extreme threat of rapid decline to extinction through loss of habitat.
Although the South East Queensland Regional Plan will have some new legislation supposedly meant to 'protect' our koalas, allowing development with provision of offsets is not a sustainable solution - and once the koalas have gone they can not come back.
If you are interested to help save our koalas from extinction please consider taking local action as well. Join a local wildlife conservation group such as Wildlife Logan part of WPSQ, the newly formed PAWs group PROTECT AUSTRALIA'S WILDLIFE ( contact Trixie Benbrook) and or join Logan and Albert Conservation Association.
Contact your local council and councillor to ask them what they are prepared to do to protect the koala's habitat from unsustainable development. We as a society can learn to co-exist with our native fauna - but we will have to rethink the consequences of our actions.