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newy.com.au – A suite of innovative conservation projects funded under a Federal grant is helping to secure the future of koalas in Port Stephens, with local Council initiatives placing the endangered marsupials at the heart of environmental planning.
Port Stephens Council, supported by a three-year funding boost of more than $160,000 from the Federal Government’s Koala Community Grants Round 1, has rolled out multiple research-based initiatives to protect local koala populations. Mayor Leah Anderson said the projects are crucial to understanding and supporting the region’s iconic wildlife.
“Our koalas are deeply connected to Port Stephens’ identity, economy and natural landscape,” Mayor Anderson said. “These projects help us better understand where koalas live, what they eat, and how we can protect their habitats in the long term.”
Among the standout achievements is the development of the first genetically verified koala feed tree list specific to Port Stephens, created using scientific analysis of koala diets. The Council has also contributed to a highly detailed vegetation map pinpointing the exact locations of these vital feed trees.
Other milestones include trialling advanced methods of locating koalas through thermal drone technology and detection dogs, producing a strategic koala habitat restoration map, and fostering deeper partnerships with Traditional Owners to enhance cultural and ecological knowledge.
Kimberly Baker, Council’s Environmental Strategy Team Leader, highlighted the importance of a scientific approach. “This funding has allowed us to harness new technology and research to accurately map critical koala habitats, which is essential for protecting this endangered species,” she said.
The Council has worked closely with groups including the Port Stephens Koala Hospital, the University of Newcastle, Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, Hunter Water, and NSW Government departments to deliver the projects.
To reduce road trauma during the koala breeding season, 40 new koala warning signs that can be folded down when not in use have also been installed in high-risk areas. These signs also display the emergency number for reporting injured koalas: 1800 775 625.
More details on the koala conservation projects can be found at pscouncil.info/koala-projects.
newy.com.au - City of Newcastle welcomed the public back inside the Newcastle Art Gallery today, unveiling the first completed spaces of its expansion at the Laman Street site and offering a preview timed to the opening day of the New Annual festival. The partial reopening gives locals an early […]
