OPINION: Stop the sale of 109 Foreshore Drive Opinion by News Of The Area - Modern Media - March 8, 2022 DEAR News Of The Area, I’M writing to you to express my strong concerns and objections to the sale of a well known and critically important koala corridor at 109 Foreshore Drive, immediately adjacent to the Mambo Wetlands. The local and international community and 200 volunteers who staff the Port Stephens Koala Hospital find this decision bitterly disappointing and appalling. Recently the koalas have been declared Endangered by Environment Minister Sussan Ley. How are you supposed to prevent the extinction of koalas in Port Stephens when the Mayor and the Port Stephens Council makes decisions that, without question, will hasten this national and international tragedy? The loss of habitat and/or the fragmentation of habitats and corridors for all wildlife, severely interrupts their home range, movement patterns, social structure and stress levels in koala populations, making them much more vulnerable to disease, road strike and dog attacks. Thus taking in its totality, habitat loss and fragmentation is considered the principal cause of decline in koala populations. Koalas are an economic benefit for the Port Stephens region. Tourists will come to Port Stephens, which is a beautiful place, after the pandemic, to see koalas in the wild. Koalas are the biggest attraction for animals in Australia and you simply cannot allow them to be extinguished by destroying their trees, vital corridors and habitat. The community DOESN’T want this waterfront land sold off and public access reduced. Please listen to your community and electorate. Koalas deserve much better from you. It is for these reasons that I urge you, Mayor Ryan Palmer and all the Councillors who voted for the selling of this corridor, seriously reconsider and overturn your despicable vote during the last Council meeting and ensure that this iconic piece of community land that is a koala corridor is not sold and protected forever for the future generations. You can not allow the koala’s extinction. Act now please. The world is watching. Yours sincerely, Paola TORTI, Italy.
I indeed agree that, if the destruction of vital koala habitat at 109 Fireshore Drive proceeds, it will further increase the loss of life of our beloved, iconic koalas. Mayor Ryan Palmer and Counsillors, your decision to vote yes to the sale of 109 Foreshore Drive is of grave concern to many, especially to nearby Port Stephens Koala Hospital, who sees first hand, on a daily basis, the damage and heartbreaking loss of our beautiful koalas that are experiencing the stress of losing THEIR homes. They have to travel further into more populated areas to try and find what they need to survive. This further adds more stress and danger to their lives by being attacked by dogs and/or suffering or dying from being hit by vehicles. Mayor Ryan Palmer and Councillors, THE KOALAS ARE ENDANGERED! What more is there to be understood?! I totally object to the sale of this vital koala corridor 109 Foreshore Drive as does the community! Please overturn this senseless, destructive measure that surely will hasten the demise of our koalas and to this lovely waterfront community. Mayor Palmer and Counsillors, Please do the right thing! Please reconsider and overturn your YES vote to NO sale of this extremely vital koala corridor. Please listen to the people who live in this lovely community that you serve! Indeed, the world is watching!!! Sincere Regards, Pattie LaRosa USA Reply
Absolutely agree Koalas are the spirit of Australia and should be protected at all costs SHAME on Australia for not doing more the world is watching ❤️ Reply
I agree completely and will be very disappointed to not be able to see koalas in the wild when I visit Australia. I watch all news about koalas and kangaroos from Canada and am astounded at the constant clearing and destruction of wildlife habitat. These trees simply do not grow back by themselves. Stop thinking about your wallet! Reply
Save 109 Foreshore Drive! I totally agree with Paola Torti – how can precious koala habitat even stand for consideration for clearing? Has anyone not got the news, the dreadful news that koalas are endangered? Destroying their habitat means destroying koalas and with them other precious wildlife. Habitat loss is the number 1 reason for the terrible decline in numbers of these unique animals. All accidents , whether by car or dog, happen because they have no homes anymore and must roam the dangerous ground. It is absolutely unfair and irresponsible to sacrifice any more koala habitat. Please Port Stephens, do not let this happen. It is known that the community does not want this project, they want their beautiful place and nature intact! I urge and implore the Mayor, Ryan Palmer and the councillors to act wisely and in accordance with their community and nature. Yours, Anja Schneider from Germany Reply
