Urban Fringe

Community Driven Koala Conservation

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is listed as endangered under both Federal and State environmental legislation. Their populations are under threat due to habitat fragmentation, disease, and urbanisation.

Through this project, Watergum are working in partnership with Scenic Rim Regional Council to educate the community and better understand the genetic diversity and disease profiles of Koalas in the area.

This project aims to improve the extent, quality and connectivity of Koala habitat and reduce local threats by providing environmental restoration on private properties, helping to reduce weed species including weeds of national significance, support and create wildlife corridors for Koalas, provides community education and resourcing, Koala carer support (feed trees as well as release site maintenance) and will establish baseline health data on the urban edge Koala population.

Urbanisation, drought, bushfires and an ever-expanding urban footprint has allowed Gold Coast and Scenic Rim edge Koala populations to be under intense pressure. Koala habitat is scarce, hence why creating and maintaining suitable Koala corridors and highways is more important than ever. This, in conjunction with Koala feed trees and release site maintenance will also support wildlife carers in being able to successfully rehabilitate and release Koalas back into the wild.