AFTER a few years of absence perhaps koalas are returning to Tea Gardens or perhaps they are just retiring there.

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Recently there have been sightings that give hope of permanent residence. Recently koala activity was detected in the remnant koala food tree corridor at the rear of Coolabah Close. Last year a koala came knocking on the screen door of one of the retirement homes in Willow Court, the Grange.

In July a koala was hit by a car in Kingfisher Avenue. The young couple in the car stopped to render assistance as the animal shot across the road and up a tree. Eventually he climbed down and headed for the Koala Reserve.

The Koala Group has been planning for years to establish an avenue of koala food trees in Sanderling Avenue in the memory of John Davis, a well-respected Tree Management Officer from Great Lakes Council.

Last year we purchased a number of different species of Eucalypts that are known to be koala food trees.

We then paid a bush regenerator to grown these tube-stock trees up to a suitable size for planting. They were to be planted in separate stands along Sanderling Avenue to showcase the different types so that residents who may wish to select a tree for planting can see an example. Two weeks ago they were ready and were planted along the street, surrounded with woodchips and watered. Sadly, last week vandals ripped out 12 of the freshly planted trees. What is even more galling to us is that this is the second time that vandals have destroyed our plantings in Sanderling Avenue. It is hard to understand the mentality of people who vandalise the hard work of others.

By Gail & Ian MORPHETT