WITH loss of koala habitat high on the agenda after last year’s bush fires, some Raymond Terrace locals have been rolling up their sleeves and planting koala feed trees to help secure the future for the iconic species.

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In a first for the area, the Raymond Terrace Lions Club, Raymond Terrace Parks, Reserves and Tidy Towns, Boomerang Park Preservation Group and Biological Preservation Australia teamed together to plant koala feed trees in Boomerang Park.

There were four members of the Raymond Terrace Parks, Reserves, and Tidy Towns Group and the Boomerang Park Preservation Group along with eight members of the Raymond Terrace Lions Club who were joined by two consultants from Biological Preservation Australia to conduct the planting.

Neil Goldthorpe of the Raymond Terrace Lions Club told News Of The Area, “The group planted sixty Forest Red Gums (Eucalyptus Tereticornis) plus twenty-four middle story and lower story natives, totalling 84 plantings.”

Boomerang Park provides mature koala habitat, which supported a high koala population up until the late 1990s; however, they no longer exist in the park.

Strengthening gaps in koala corridors into the park will support re-colonisation of Koalas to the adjacent Muree Golf Course and Boomerang Park.

It is understood that in the long term Port Stephens Koalas and the recently opened Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary at One Mile Beach will be able to harvest a portion of the trees planted to feed the koalas which are in care.

More tree planting sessions are planned in the future and you can roll up your sleeves alongside the Lions and other community groups to help make a difference.

You can find out more or register your interest in being a part of the future development of koala habitat by contacting the Port Stephens Koala Tree Group on 0407 358 691.

By Marian SAMPSON