Friends of Pine Creek report koala and scat sightings on edge of plantation forest Coffs Coast Coffs Coast - popup ad Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - September 25, 2023 Koala scats reportedly found in a plantation. Photo: Friends of Pine Creek. A MAJOR argument in the ongoing disputes about native forest logging concerns how koala habitat is defined. The Friends of Pine Creek, a group of citizens committed to protecting the natural and cultural values of Pine Creek State Forest, have been out and about looking for evidence of koalas in areas designated as plantation forest. 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 In recent weeks the group claims to have sighted a koala in compartment 15 of Pine Creek State Forest on the edge of forest designated as plantation on the Forestry Corporation NSW harvest plan, as well as numerous koala scats. They say they have also found scats from a specific koala within an area marked as plantation and the adjacent Bongil Bongil National Park. In Oakes State Forest, a video was taken of what appears to be a koala on the edge of an area marked for logging. “This koala is just one of thousands of examples of documented evidence of endangered threatened species and fragile environments,” said Michael Mulholland, who spotted the Oakes State Forest koala. Closer to ‘civilisation’, a koala was spotted at Sawtell beach on September 9. A week later, WIRES rescuer Amy Briggenshaw relocated a koala that was spotted on a road. Ms Briggenshaw, who also attended the first Sawtell koala sighting, said the relocated koala may have been the same one. “This one is a cute little girl who is safe now,” she said. While some might take the sightings as evidence that koalas are not endangered, others say that it points to the need for better surveys of wildlife before any potential habitat is destroyed. Forestry Corporation NSW says it has a team of 20 experienced and reputable ecologists who conduct native wildlife monitoring programs across the forest estate all year round. A spokesperson said its ecologists conduct extensive monitoring programs in state forest compartments that are approved by the State Government for timber harvest operations. By Andrew VIVIAN The koala relocated from Sawtell is released. Photo: Amy Briggenshaw A koala reportedly spotted on the edge of Oakes State Forest on Threatened Species Day. Photo: Michael Mullholland. A koala spotted at Sawtell beach. Photo: Jo Shaw.
