KOALAS EARN THEIR PLACE
GOLD Coasters are furious about the impact of land clearing on koalas.
That point was very clear in a resident survey this year, with a council report showing more than 92 per cent of respondents supported conservation measures including a land buy-up to secure habitat.
In light of that, imagine the shock to residents yesterday when the Bulletin’s “Bear Truth’’ report warned that local populations of koalas are dying out.
The council announced last month it was planning to declare a “Borobi Reserve’’ sanctuary close to ground zero — Coomera — where koala numbers are believed to have dropped below 200. The plan hinges on cooperation from the State Government and while the Environment Minister is supportive, they are awaiting recommendations from a panel. But as dozers continue land clearing, action to protect koalas must be made now and not in a year or two.
If city and state politicians are not taking note, they could well find their positions going the same way as the poor koalas.
Gold Coast population growth is putting huge pressure on vital infrastructure including roads, schools and hospitals. A sensible balance has to be found between preserving and protecting habitat, and allowing development where wildlife will not be threatened. But we have reached a crisis point. Assuming the city stockpiles conservation areas, these must have a status like the national parks, or there will always be pressure to release them for development.
A strong economic argument exists for protecting our koalas. They are a huge drawcard overseas. Celebrities line up to be photographed with them — Oprah Winfrey in 2010; tennis greats Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Venus and Serena Williams, and Angelique Kerber; and in recent times a rash of world leaders when Brisbane hosted the G20 summit, including then-US president Barack Obama and even toughguy Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Environmental economist Tor Hundloe led research 20 years ago into the worth of the koala to tourism and the national economy. At the time the study found the creatures generated $1 billion a year. He now estimates they are worth double that.
In purely economic terms, that is huge incentive for a city that promotes itself as the nation’s tourism capital.