Last month, MidCoast Council put a call out to residents to report sightings of koalas as part of a project that maps and defines the distribution, population and trends of the species across the Council region.  

The project is funded by a $33,000 NSW Government grant as part of the Saving Our Species Iconic Koala Project.

GEG member, Di Montague thought this was a good opportunity for the group to take another step toward their preservation goal for native wildlife.

The project will provide funds to help better understand local population trends, determine the amount of habitat that is presently available and better define, and then respond to, the range of threats, such as habitat loss, dog attacks, road-kills and disease. 

“It’s another way we can link into the tourism market, which currently attracts tourists interested in spotting a platypus,” she said.

“Why can’t we be known as a koala hub as well?”

MidCoast Council's senior ecologist, Mat Bell said that defining the nature of our local koala populations and better understanding the range of threats affecting them will be critical to conserving the species into the future.

He stated that despite legislative protection, the distribution and abundance of koalas has declined significantly in recent times across many parts of NSW

The first phase of the project is to compile a database of all available koala records, which requires input from the community to help record koala locations in the region.

You can report any koala sightings, past or present, or any general information about koala patterns in the areas via the online form at http://www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/News-Media/Help-us-find-koala-homes-among-MidCoast-gum-trees.

Alternatively, contact Gloucester Environment Group members, Di Montague on 0419 880 804 or Penny Drake-Brockman on 0481 828 311 for assistance.

.