'Death sentence' for SEQ koalas by proposed development area in Redlands

The state government’s plan to turn core koala habitat into housing is a death sentence for many of the nation’s most iconic animals and at odds with community needs, a Queensland Conservation Council investigation has found.

185 hectares of core koala habitat providing important food and shelter for the South East’s koala populations is set to be impacted by large scale urban sprawl with the announcement of a 900ha Priority Development Area at Southern Thornlands in Redlands, an area proudly considered Queensland’s 'Koala Coast’ with one of the most significant koala populations right next door to a major city.

All of the Redlands is mapped as a 'Koala Priority Area', meaning there are large, connected areas that have the highest potential for supporting the long-term survival of koalas. The PDA also supports habitat for a range of other threatened species including the Glossy-Black Cockatoo, White-throated Needletail and Spotted-tail Quoll.

The Queensland Conservation Council is calling for the state government to revoke the PDA, rule out any new greenfield developments, and renew and strengthen the expiring South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy.

Queensland Conservation Council Nature Campaigner and Ecologist Natalie Frost said

Koalas are on the brink of extinction in South East Queensland and we must protect the remaining habitat, not carve it up for the benefit of big developers.

This PDA is at odds with the local Council, community and the needs of Queensland’s environment. It’s a great shame to see the state government failing in its duty to protect one of the nation’s most iconic and loveable marsupials, the koala.

With the increasing impacts of climate change, models suggest that Queensland’s koala populations will continue to decline rapidly and be pushed towards the coast in search of more favourable habitat. That is why areas like the Redlands are important for the long term survival of the species.

The LNP has stated that it will reform the planning system, but where is the detail, and is this what reform looks like? David Crisafulli has talked about the problem of losing koala habitat to development, but offered no details except to say it should be protected.

By building up in the right places, not out, and adopting sustainable design principles we can protect SEQ’s remaining 35% remnant bushland and 31% koala habitat and start making habitat restoration a habit, while still creating affordable, well-connected and liveable homes.

Koala Action Group President Debbie Pointing said

The Queensland government appears determined to kill off the last of Redland’s koala population with their recent announcement of giving a green light to the Olympic Whitewater Centre at Birkdale, then over the weekend a plan to cram 8,000 houses into a 900 hectare area of Thornlands that is currently semi-rural.

The Redlands was once proudly known as having one of the most significant koala populations in close proximity to a major city. This 'Koala Coast' region had a population of more than 6,000 koalas, but now has only hundreds left due to destruction of their habitat from continuing urban sprawl and increasing threats from disease, vehicle strikes and domestic dogs.

Boundary Road at Thornlands was supposed to be the 'line in the sand' so the Redlands did not become one continuous urbanised city.

Dense housing in this area will have significant negative impacts on Eprapah and Hilliards Creek that are already under pressure from urbanisation.

There will be more stress on koalas due to increased traffic and major changes in the landscape that will create barriers to all fauna movement.

Redland City Council have already designated enough land for residential uses to accommodate population growth up to 2041.

This move by the government makes a mockery out of the koala mapping and all of the koala conservation efforts made to date by the community and Redland City Council.

Redlands 2030 President Steve MacDonald said

The PDA will likely lead to the local extinction of koalas.

What is needed is a planning approach that puts koalas as a priority consideration. But instead a PDA is a top-down planning process. It will be another assault on the livability and quality of life in the Redlands and it will likely see lots that are less than 300 sqm, as well as duplexes and other higher-density housing options.

The State Government has put in place (without any community consultation) a temporary planning framework to regulate the first phase of development, again using its ‘top-down’ powers under the Economic Development Act 2012 to make planning and development approval decisions in which the community has less opportunity to have a say about what gets built and the PDAs remove normal rights of court appeal.

Redlanders are well versed with PDAs with the City’s two existing priority development areas (Toondah Harbour and Weinam Creek). These were declared in 2014 by the short-lived Newman LNP Government and have been debacles, each costing ratepayers several million dollars with little to show for the money spent.

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