Koala’s habitat to cost council

THE city is taking out a $10 million loan to buy land critical to protecting the threatened koala population after being snubbed by the State Government.

Ratepayers will pay back the loan through a $3 levy after the Government only offered to provide $300,000 in various schemes to help koala management.

Both Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch and State Development Minister Cameron Dick rejected a request for a joint funding agreement to buy land at Coomera, with Ms Enoch’s office telling the Bulletin there had been no formal approach from the council for a funding deal.

Councillors in August resolved that Mayor Tom Tate write to both ministers to “seek co-operation and support to jointly fund the acquisition of identified highest priority properties”.

Northern councillor William Owen-Jones had the letters from the ministers placed on public record. They reveal that:

● Ms Enoch said her department was providing $5000 towards the radio advertising component of its koala breeding season campaign. The Government was funding $45,000 for new transportable koala enclosures for the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation and gave $250,000 annually to the hospital.

● Mr Dick wrote: “I commend the council for taking an active approach to this issue.”

He assured Cr Tate the property that needed to be bought to protect 1150ha of koala habitat at eastern Coomera was protected under the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

Certain uses were prohibited, including “subdivisions of lots below 100ha in size and most forms of residential development”.

Mr Dick said the property would not be needed as part of the urban footprint to accommodate population growth. About 170 koalas were at risk.

“I understand the council had the adequate capacity to accommodate its future urban growth within the existing urban footprint,” he wrote.

But Mr Dick in his letter made no offer or reference to the state helping with the future buy-up of land.

THE ACQUISITION OF KOALA HABITAT WOULD OCCUR MUCH FASTER IF THE STATE PROVIDED SUBSTANTIVE FUNDING CR WILLIAM OWEN-JONES

Cr Owen-Jones told the Bulletin yesterday: “The acquisition of koala habitat would occur much faster if the state provided substantive funding.”

But a spokesperson for Ms Enoch said no formal request had been made about funding for acquisition of a particular parcel of land.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to protecting koalas,” the spokesperson said. “We are developing a long-term strategy.”

The spokesperson confirmed funding was directed towards existing initiatives such as supporting the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.