“We want to sincerely thank the Holiday Coast Credit Union for their generous support of this exciting new project,” said group facilitator Di Montague.

As Gloucester has been recognised as a koala hub, MidCoast Council will conduct a survey of the area to ascertain the koala population and follow through with improving their habitat.

In March this year, MidCoast Council identified an area near Gloucester as a significant hotspot after the community took part in a koala mapping exercise over a year.

Along with council’s announcement, Gloucester Environment Group initiated a habitat improvement project for koalas in the northern Gloucester area, in the vicinity of Bucketts Road and Showground Road.  

With reports on the koala decline, it is time to act. 

The Australian Koala Foundation believes the national wild koala population could be less than 80,000, a far cry from the millions that were shot for their fur in the early part of the last century.

News reports estimate in the 20 years from 1990 to 2010, the koala population in NSW reduced by one third.

It has been shown the destruction of koala habitat for urban development and resultant dog attacks and vehicle strikes are key elements in the decline.

The Holiday Coast Credit Union funding will enable the pilot program of the KoalaWays project to get underway. 

The project consists of koala corridors and clumps.

Hundreds of trees and shrubs, favoured by koalas for eating and resting, will be planted on common land and properties in the valley.

Once the consent of residents is given, there will be tree-planting days, where everyone in the community can be involved.

This will preserve and increase the koala population in the Gloucester region.

It is hoped that koalas will become a familiar sight for residents and visitors to the Gloucester valley.

To be involved in this exciting project and for information email gloucester.environment.group@gmail.com or call Dianne on 6558 2598.