Massive support for koala reserves

THE overwhelming majority of Gold Coast residents are furious about the impact of land clearing on koalas and support the council buying areas for reserves.

More than 92 per cent of residents have supported 61 conservation actions as part of a management strategy by council.

The key findings from a resident survey released in a council report yesterday highlighted “their dissatisfaction with the level of land clearing currently occurring in the city”.

Residents support a land buy-up to secure habitat and increase public open space, and they want tougher fines for illegal tree clearing.

Councillors went into closed session at a planning committee meeting yesterday to discuss potential solutions after last month supporting a “Borobi Reserve” at Coomera to help displaced koalas.

Planning Committee chairman Councillor Cameron Caldwell told the Bulletin: “Council will consider a range of options to secure additional koala habitat in East Coomera. The decision aims to address the challenges with associated isolated koala populations.

“Options to secure this habitat include acquiring identified properties from private landholders, use of City Plan protection mechanisms and joint land acquisition with the State Government.”

The council koala conservation plan found the habitat at Coomera-Pimpama was under “significant pressure”. Other priority koala areas identified included Burleigh Ridge and Elanora-Currumbin Waters.