Ipswich Koala Protection Society is one of the key groups that have formed an alliance to fight the nexus between developer donations and political decisions.
"We're tired of writing submissions and 'comments' that seem to be ignored," said Helen Darbellay, IKPS Secretary, "they have not provided any protection to Ipswich koalas in the past and are not likely to in the future unless serious changes are made to stop landclearing and protect essential regrowth" she said.
"About six years ago we, (IKPS) worked with Ipswich City Council planners to identify and map key areas of koala habitat only to have much of it 'unmapped' by the state government" Ms Darbellay said.
"The comparison between koala observations in Ipswich and the latest GHD koala habitat mapping show little recognition of large areas of high density and important lower density koala landscapes throughout Ipswich, with Ipswich being shown as largely white space on the GHD map," she said.
"The Regional Plan maps and Infrastructure plans threaten core areas and koala corridors. The proposed Southern Freight Rail Corridor threatens large tracts of prime habitat, known to be home to a large population of healthy koalas. The area is an undocumented Biodiversity hotspot, yet is afforded no protection under any local, State or Federal legislation.
"The koala as an umbrella species and fauna icon should be declared Endangered"
Please browse the pages of the IKPS's website to learn more about their activities. Based in South-East Queensland, IKPS is an incorporated group that provides a 24/7 ambulance service for more than 100 sick, injured or orphaned koalas each year. IKPS helps to raise baby koalas orphaned by motor vehicles and domestic dog attacks. IKPS plants trees that provide koalas food to replace those lost as a result of development.
IKPS provides information to the community and to local government on koalas, their needs and their future. IKPS has no paid staff ... everyone is a volunteer. And you can help too!
Any assistance you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Koalas to lose ‘prime habitat' is all too familiar headline we are reading constantly in newspapers from areas all across south east Queensland.
This story was published in the WHEREiLIVE section of Springfield News here.
COLLINGWOOD PARK: The local koala population must be protected from an $800 million building development, a koala group has said.
Ipswich Koala Protection Society secretary Helen Darbellay said she found signs of koalas occupying the 77ha Corymbia Woods development site on Collingwood Drive when she inspected the area last week.
The development, including 1966 dwellings, a town centre and greenspace, was approved by Ipswich City Council in September.
Mrs Darbellay said arrangements needed to be made to help protect the local koala and wildlife population.
"We would like to see intensive tree planting along the Goodna Creek which produce suitable koala food," Mrs Darbellay said.
"The development is prime koala habitat but unfortunately it hasn't been mapped as such.
"Once land starts to be cleared you start to find how many koalas are there because you're picking them up off the roads from dog attacks or they die from stress-related factors."
Mrs Darbellay hoped the developer, Corymbia Corporation, would strictly follow the council's fauna assessment report.
Ipswich Councillor Victor Attwood (Div 3) said council officers camped overnight last year to find any koalas inside the development.
While they were unable to find any koalas, Cr Attwood said they did find evidence of the marsupials' presence.
Cr Attwood also said an $8000 donation he received from Corymbia Corporation, which he later disclosed to the council, did not influence his vote.
Corymbia Corporation would not comment on the matter.