1000 new trees restore ‘missing link’ in Moreton Bay Region

A new 1km koala corridor has been set up along the North Pine River as part of Moreton Bay Regional Council’s green infrastructure program.

More than 1000 eucalyptus trees have been planted between Nelson Rd and Ron Thomason Reserve in Lawnton to re-establish a missing link of koala habitat.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the new tree passage, on the southern side of the river, is Council’s longest koala corridor planting so far.

“We are about the only Council area in Australia growing our koala population on public land and it is important we continue to support this,” Mayor Flannery says.

“Providing improved corridor connectivity will help koalas move around the region safely, particularly along the North Pine River.

“We have successfully helped increase the local koala population at The Mill site by over 22 per cent per annum in the past three years.”

Faster growing trees

Council has trialled deep-stem planting methodology to accelerate the growth of gum trees in the hope of creating koala habitat faster.

Planting longer-rooted trees deeper into the ground has seen some recently planted trees already nearing two meters in height.

Cr Flannery said more than 45,000 trees will be planted in our region over the next three years, including replanting underway at Wyllie Park directly opposite from The Mill.

Council has also built 20 fauna rope bridges, 10km of fauna exclusion fencing and 10 wildlife underpasses to help keep wildlife and motorists safe.

There is also a $1.8 million land buyback plan to protect wildlife corridors, koala habitat and greenspace.

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