Call for help with koala fundraising
MAGNETIC Island’s koalas urgently need our help.
Racing against the clock, a local nature care group is desperately appealing for North Queenslanders to chip in with donations to secure the longterm future of Magnetic Island’s koala population.
The island is one of Australia’s most significant remaining refuges for the iconic marsupials, with an estimated 800 to 900 resident koalas.
Named after its former owner Claude Timms, Claude’s Block is a 5.33 hectare parcel of land on the western side of Magnetic Island.
It was regarded as the “missing centrepiece” for a ring of nature-protected properties at Bolger Bay, where the highest densities of koalas were found.
When Mr Timms’ family made the decision to sell the block, they gave the Magnetic Island Nature Care ( MINCA) group “first dibs” to purchase the $400,000 koala habitat before it was put on the market on June 23.
An island resident for the past 30 years, MINCA committee member George Hirst said they leapt at the opportunity to save and preserve the reservoir of biodiversity.
Since launching their fundraising effort on May 5, he said they had received tremendous support from the community.
“It’s really quite amazing the response we’ve had. So far we’ve raised about $340,000,” Mr Hirst said.
“People all over the island are talking about this as well as on Facebook. There is so much excitement and support, we’ve been really humbled by the generosity of our community.”
Of that, $100,000 had come from a bequest to the group, with the remaining two thirds coming from the community and some larger donors – especially those with connections to the island.
“It’s a nailbiting time, it’s getting right down to the wire. We need to raise around about another $60,000,” he said.
“We know it’s a big call so we’re hoping the wider Townsville community can help us out.”
In contrast to the island’s interior, he said Claude’s Block was an ideal habitat for koalas.
“You get much bigger trees with lots more leaves and lots more nutrition for them growing out of the deeper rich, moister soil in the lowlands rather than up in the hilly, hot national park areas in the middle of the island,” he said.
If the fundraising effort was successful, the plan was to continue regenerating the block by harvesting and growing seeds from local trees, including blue gums and other local native species.
The block’s existing infrastructure also had the potential to support the community.
The old CSIRO building would be useful for hosting educational groups to learn about regeneration and the natural habitat.
As a member of the West Point Rural Fire Brigade, Mr Hirst said it would be ideal if they could store their equipment in Claude’s old shed rather than “under a tarp in some bloke’s backyard”.
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