PORT Stephens and the Myall Coast are two of the few regions left on the NSW East Coast where you can still spot a koala in the wild.

This doesn’t mean that the species isn’t under threat.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

Residents are asked to report wild koala sightings at www.psk.net.au and while we still see them in the wild on our doorstep, some experts believe koalas are sadly still on track for extinction by 2050.

Protections are still lacking according to James Tremain of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.

There is still no date for a new Koala Strategy, koala codes or Koala SEPP, however all are expected to be resolved in some manner this year.

NSW is expected to expand its National Parks, however this may be too little too late for the koala population in the Port Stephens and Myall Coast regions.

Conservationists believe one of the biggest threats to the species is habitat loss, with land clearing laws failing to protect critical bushland.

A review of the laws (Biodiversity Conservation Act and Local Land Services Act) is due this year.

There are currently two Koala SEPPs operating in NSW: the stronger for the Sydney metro area and a few other places; the weaker one in rural and regional areas.

Conservationists believe the NSW Government is long overdue to deliver a new Koala Strategy and there is no indication when it will be released.

Meanwhile, development in Sydney’s south west continues to displace koalas from one of the healthiest koala colonies in the state with land clearing and logging that is destroying koala habitat is continuing at record rates.

Conservation groups want the government to: Resolve the SEPP issue such that koala habitat on private land is protected from development, clearing and private native forestry; release a strong Koala Strategy asap; end native forest logging asap; and create the Great Koala National Park that conservation groups have proposed for the Mid North Coast.

According to James Tremain of the Nature Conservation Council, there are a range of things concerned citizens can do on a personal level to help save koalas.

Mr Tremain told News Of The Area, “Habitat protection is the key.

“You can’t have koalas without koala trees, so the best thing we can do is protect koala forests from development.

“Koala numbers are plunging so fast they could be extinct by 2050 if we don’t stop cutting down their trees.

“This is not an exaggeration – it is very real.

“If we let that happen, it would be a monumental loss not just for NSW and Australia, but for the whole of humanity.

“Our state and local governments need to address the koala crisis at a high level through planning and conservation laws.

“Sadly, our politicians keep putting developer profits ahead of koala conservation, which is killing the species one housing block and one paddock at a time.

“The best thing people on the Mid North Coast can do to save koalas is to get organised.

“That means joining a koala conservation group or forming a new one.

“It means using the power of the people and collective action to demand change.

“Lobby your local council, lobby your state MP and government ministers.

“Knock on their doors, meet them and demand stronger laws, more koala sanctuaries and more investment in conservation and science.

“Don’t accept spin and excuses — judge them by their actions and by how many koalas we have in our forests.
“Don’t ever give up.”

By Marian SAMPSON