Your questions answered

Yes, Council has applied the Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management since 2011. The plan remains in force for a period of 15 years unless reviewed earlier. 

The review of this document is identified as a priority in Council's 2022-26 Delivery Program and Biodiversity Strategy. 

The release of the NSW Koala Strategy in 2022, provided Council the opportunity to secure funding to create new maps of koala habitats within the existing Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management. These maps would cover the eastern part of the Kempsey Shire. 

This is our first step in reviewing the Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management.

Yes, but this was completed 14 years ago in 2009. 

The habitat was mapped using the Spot Assessment Technique, which includes: 

• Tree-based sampling that focuses on tree species that koalas feed on 
• Presence of koala faecal pellets also called scats. 

Since then, the techniques and processes in identifying koala habitat has evolved and improved.

Our goal is to enhance our knowledge and awareness of the locations where koalas live in the Kempsey Shire. 

To achieve this, we aim to gather the most accurate and up-to-date data using the latest scientific methods. This will allow us to determine the extent of koala habitat and the presence of koalas. Then we can effectively identify and manage any impacts on koala habitat during the planning process. 

Our focus is on identifying the best possible habitat for koalas. To achieve this, we have developed a new methodology that combines two key approaches: 

• Vegetation assessment: This involves conducting botanical surveys to determine if the vegetation in a given area is suitable for koalas. 
• Koala presence detection: We will employ detection dogs during surveys to identify evidence of koalas. The specially trained koala detection dog will primarily focus on locating koala scat (feces). The dog handler, who is also an ecologist, will verify the identification of koala scat, identify tree species, and collect relevant field data such as noting disturbances and identifying weeds at each survey site.

We want to access your property to undertake field surveys to look for koala activity. 

Our main goal is to determine if the vegetation on your property can provide suitable habitat for koalas. It's important to note that we're not only interested in finding out if koalas are present but also in understanding how different areas connect and whether they can support koalas. 

For example, if koalas are observed moving through an empty paddock between patches of bushland, it doesn't necessarily mean that the paddock itself is suitable habitat for them. By gathering this information, we can improve our current mapping and have a better understanding of where koalas live. 

Please note there is no requirement for you to participate and we will not access your property without your permission. Any information you provide will be subject to the relevant privacy considerations.

First, your property is located within the existing Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management area, which is the specific area being focused on for mapping koala habitat.

Second, one or more of the following criteria have been met:

1. Presence of koala feed trees: If your property has trees that are known to be a food source for koalas, it increases the likelihood of koalas using that habitat.

2. Evidence of koalas on or within 2km of your property: If there have been past records or evidence of koalas on your property, such as documented sightings or other historical information, it indicates that koalas have previously inhabited the area.

Yes, Council will inform landholders of the results of the survey on their land.

By looking back at past records, we know that koalas once inhabited our area. 

Knowing this, we want to find out two things:

1. if there are permanent koala populations, and 
2. If the habitat is still there, can koalas come back and live comfortably?

The mapping will give the council valuable information at a local level to plan, protect, and manage crucial areas for koalas. This information can be used in planning efforts and regulations. It will help ensure that important connections between areas are maintained and that the local koala population is not negatively affected.

Council has an existing Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management and will investigate how the new mapping will inform a new Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management.

As our area has been identified as having a state significant koala population there are several projects associated with koala conservation and management in our area. Please see below for more information. 

Hastings- Macleay Koala Recovery Partnership

The Hastings- Macleay Koala Recovery Partnership has been created as part of the NSW Governments Koala Program. This partnership will support locally delivered Koala conservation initiatives in areas where priority koala populations have been identified. Koala Conservation Australia has been appointed to host the regional partnership for the Hastings-Macleay area to deliver the on-ground actions with the support of Department of Planning and Environment, Kempsey Shire Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Macleay Landcare, Hastings Landcare, Local Land Services and Local Birpai and Dunghutti First Nations people. 

The Hastings- Macleay Koala Habitat Restoration Program is one of the important projects the partnership is delivering. The program aims to provide direct support to landholders within the priority Areas of Regional Koala Significance (ARKS) who have Koala Habitat on their property to undertake activities such as weed control, bush regeneration, planting of koala corridors and fencing. 

Macleay Landcare Network

Koala Mesic Refuge Corridor Project

Macleay Landcare Network engaged 12 private properties to deliver funding to restore habitat/improve prime Koala habitat connectivity in the Yarrahapinni, Maria River & Wittitrin areas. Activities under this project included tree planting to establish corridors and bush regeneration to encourage native flora establishment & improve Koala landscape migrations across the shire. Outcomes included restoring corridor connections from Yarrahapinni Mountain to the wetland, restoring valley corridor connections along valley floors at Wittitrin & improving prime habitat in Maria River priority ARK. The project was concluded in April 2023.

Macleay Koala Habitat Restoration Program

Macleay Landcare Network staff engaged 7 private properties in the Maria River area, a priority Area of Regional Koala Significance. MLN has engaged local bush regeneration experts to conduct on ground work in association with MLN planning specifications on the involved private properties. This project has a scope for improving prime koala habitat in Maria River region. This project is due to finish in April 2024.

Crescent Head Koala Habitat Restoration Project

Macleay Landcare Network is currently seeking landholders in the Crescent Head area to engage for on ground habitat improvement works. An Expression of Interest document is currently open till 16^th August 2023 for landholders to apply for on ground support.

Activities that are eligible to be funded include tree planting, fencing & bush regeneration. All work must be finished by June 2024.

For more information or to apply for habitat restoration funding email the Macleay Landcare coordinator at louis.macleaylandcare@outlook.com

Koala Recovery Partnership -– Koala habitat restoration and monitoring program 

Macleay Landcare - Tree Change for Koalas

Local Land Services - Protecting Koalas in North Coast Areas of Regional Koala Significance 

Koala Conservation Australia – Koala Breeding Program