COFFS Harbour will be the focus for scientists, conservationists, scientists and wildlife carers as they assemble to highlight the extinction risk facing koalas in NSW and discuss policy solutions to protect koalas and their habitat.

They will gather at The Cavanbah Centre from 9am until 5pm on Saturday, October 29, for ‘The Vanishing – NSW Koala Conference’.

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The conference is the brainchild of former NSW Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack and is timed to put koala protection on the agenda ahead of the March 2023 state election.

Speakers will include Ms Cusack, Justin Field (NSW MLC), Penny Sharpe (NSW Shadow Environment Minister), Cate Faehrmann (NSW MLC), Dr Stuart Blanch (Senior Manager – Land Clearing and Restoration, WWF Australia), Sally Townley (Deputy Mayor, Coffs Harbour) and Micklo Jarrett (Head Aboriginal Language and Culture Trainer for the Gumbaynggirr Language and Culture Nest).

Other scientists, conservationists and politicians will also speak.

The NSW National Parks Association is organising a meet-and-greet event on the Friday for local businesses and a Koala Family Picnic on the Sunday to coincide with the conference.

The Association has arranged for an open letter for business in support of the Great Koala National Park to be handed over at the event, and, so far, forty businesses have signed it.

The view of the Association is that the Great Koala National Park is not just the koala’s best hope at survival in NSW, but is predicted to create an extra 9,800 jobs in tourism over fifteen years and inject $1.2 billion in projected additional regional economic output.

“As a former MP who served in opposition and government, I saw up close how our political process is failing koalas,” Ms Cusack said.

“Yes, there has been significant media coverage of their decline, nice words and lots of sympathy – but we are yet to see a credible rescue plan from the major parties who will form Government after the March 2023 election.

Ms Cusack crossed the floor twice in Parliament – both times for matters concerning koala protection.

She said she came to realise that individual politicians speaking out is insufficient and that collective action by citizens is the last line of defence for koalas.

“Now is the time to insist koalas are a priority.

“In the lead up to the NSW state election in March, it’s more important than ever for us to make our voices heard.”

Further information, tickets and how to join remotely can be found at eventbrite.com.

By Andrew VIVIAN