PORT Stephens Koala Sanctuary celebrated one year of operations at the One Mile Beach conservation facility on Friday.

The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary is a purpose built eco facility that includes the Port Stephens Koala Hospital, the Newcastle Airport Skywalk, the Sanctuary Story Walk, Fat Possum Café and deluxe 4 star glamping accommodation.

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Port Stephens Koalas is the volunteer based organisation that rescues and cares for the koalas housed at the sanctuary.

They also fund the care and treatment of sick and injured koalas.

The result of partnership between Council, the NSW Government and volunteer care group Port Stephens Koalas; the Koala Sanctuary is focused on sustaining and protecting the threatened species for years to come.

The Sanctuary Manager Zahee Girjes says the facility is vital to helping secure the future of one of the last remaining koala populations on the east coast of Australia.

“Port Stephens is home to koalas.

“We’re incredibly proud of that and we all have the responsibility to protect koalas and ensure their future for generations to come,” Mr Girjes said.

“Port Stephens Council is working to sustain and grow a healthy and viable koala population in our region – the Koala Sanctuary is one way we can do that,” he added.

The Koala Sanctuary offers tailored and educational tours from local guides on how we care for sick, injured and orphaned koalas to give them the best opportunity to return to the wild.

Over the past year, despite lockdowns and weather events, the Sanctuary has welcomed more than 25,000 day visitors and 2,848 overnight visitors.

“Each one of these visitors becomes an advocate for the koala – every visitor to the Sanctuary contributes directly to the preservation of koalas in Port Stephens with a percentage of all income generated going back into daily operations of the Port Stephens Koala Hospital,” Mr Girjes said.

With COVID-19 restrictions easing, the Koala Sanctuary has reopened daily, welcoming visitors between 9am and 5pm.

Overnight accommodation in the Deluxe 4 Star Glamping Tents is also back up and running with bookings for the Summer School Holidays running at nearly 80% occupancy.

The Sanctuary would not have been possible without the financial support of the NSW Government, Port Stephens Koala Hospital, passionate volunteers with corporate support from Newcastle Airport and Greater Bank.

The Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary is open daily to the general public from 9am to 5pm.

For more information about the Sanctuary visit portstephenskoalasanctuary.com.au.

By Marian SAMPSON