Original story by Judith Kerr, Bayside Bulletin
Roadkill. Koala groups are being asked to apply for a slice of state government funding to help protect koalas.
REDLANDS koala action groups are being invited to apply for a slice of $800,000 to help koala conservation groups rescue and rehabilitate koalas across Queensland.
Expressions of interest close on October 25.
Premier Campbell Newman launched the next stage of the four-year funding commitment this morning and also announced a three-year, $22.5 million Koala Habitat Program.
“This government is committed to a holistic approach to koala conservation, focusing not only on habitat protection, but koala rescue and rehabilitation,” Mr Newman said.
“These funds will go directly to organisations that do such an amazing job on the front-line with koalas.”
The state has also pledged more than $3million to support research into disease and other preventable causes of death, injury and illness under the Koala Research Grants Program.
The funding is part of the state government’s $26million Investing to protect koalas policy.
The first round of the grants program provided $280,000 to 11 koala care organisations for a diverse range of projects – from purchasing specialised rescue equipment to establishing eucalypt plantations.
Environment Minister Andrew Powell said he was impressed with the quality of the applications from the first round and was confident the second round would result in even more valuable projects.
No organisation in Redland received any of the first round of funding.Australian Koala Foundation chief executive Deborah Tabart said she was amazed Redlands did not get any of the funding and said “the funding was nothing more than pork-barrelling”.
An $8million national study conducted by her foundation found an estimated koala population of 400 to 800 animals in the federal seat of Bowman, which covers Redlands.
It also found an estimated 43.8 per cent of the koala habitat left in the electorate.
“This koala population continues to decline,” Ms Tabart said. “It should be listed as critically endangered and development in this region is rampant.
“It will be very difficult to save this population.” The koala population in parts of Bowman is listed as “vulnerable to extinction” under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (May 2012).
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