HOUSING, WILDLIFE BALANCE PIVOTAL

COUNCILLORS will save the remaining most important koala corridor in the city’s fastgrowing north. Developers are to be compensated millions of dollars for their land. But the real human cost here could be housing prices driven upwards, and less affordable accommodation.

A confidential report was discussed behind closed doors at council on Tuesday. Few details are available because the matter was commercial-in-confidence. But around the corridors of council, city leaders say this is a “big deal” announcement.

The bottom line is protection of bushland at East Coomera covering 400ha and supporting 500 koalas.

The Coast has lost 44,000ha of primary koala habitat between European settlement and 2017.

Our environmental record was not good. Remember, all of this research gathering occurred against the backdrop of Borobi being the city’s mascot for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The other consistent point to emerge during that period was the state government’s lack of enthusiasm to join funding agreements.

Lost in all this debate is the state’s planning requirement on the Coast reaching population targets. The Coast could be home to 1.076m residents by 2041. In June this year, councillor Mark Hammel warned the city’s north had reached the edge of its urban footprint. Council had to focus on approving higher density because not enough greenfield space was left.

This latest decision cost at least 1800 extra housing lots. Council should be applauded for protecting koalas, but it must now find solutions to protect affordable housing for new residents.

The balance must always be found between the green and the gold.