Pitching in to help Moreton Bay’s koalas

Moreton Bay students and koala carers will be out in force on Friday (July 24) as part of the 10th National Tree Planting Day for Schools.

Seven schools from the Pine Rivers and Redcliffe will be planting koala food trees, from 9-11am at Rob Akers Reserve, Bells Pocket Rd, Strathpine.

Organised by Sue Laird from Pine Rivers Koala Care, they will add to more than 5700 trees planted by more than 250 students over the last nine years.

Schools taking part are: Pine Rivers State High School (20-25 students), Samford Valley Steiner School (22 Year 8 pupils), Bray Park State High (5 students).

Also, Strathpine State School (10-15 students), Strathpine West State School, (8 students), Pine Rivers Special School (10 students) and Redcliffe Special School (10 students).

Sponsors include City of Moreton Bay for the location, Koala Action $500 for plants bought from Kumbartcho, Rolf Hoffin for eucalyptus species, Cr Jim Moloney (Div 8) food and drinks and TK Tree Services for free mulch.

“The transformation of Rob Akers and Grahams Rd into a thriving habitat for koalas and other wildlife is truly remarkable,” Sue said.

“Koalas are now actively feeding on trees planted over nine years ago highlighting the long-term benefits of habitat restoration.

“Counting 22 adults and their young during a survey in October 2023 of Rob Akers and Lawnton Pocket Rd underscores the significance of this area, especially given the pressures from land clearing in surrounding suburbs.

“The corridor that links Grahams Rd and Rob Akers to the parks along 4 Mile Creek is essential for the survival of koalas.

“Protecting these areas for in-perpetuity is crucial for maintaining the DNA bank and survival of the species.”

Nine years of tree planting:

2016 - at Kurwongbah State School, two students planted 12 dwarf eucalyptus kabiana (endangered gum species) as part of a UniSC experiment.

2017 - at Rob Akers Reserve (location of this year’s planting), 250 trees were planted by 44 students from Strathpine State School, Bray Park State School, Pine River State High School.

2018 - at Rob Akers Reserve, 750 plants

2019 - at Rob Akers Reserve, 62 students from Strathpine State School, Pine Rivers State High, Bray Park State School, planted 500 trees.

2020 - (COVID) at Rob Akers Reserve, 1000 plants.

2021 - at Eddie Hyland Reserve, 27 students from Lawnton State School, Strathpine State School, Pine Rivers State School, Pine Rivers State High School put in 1000 plants.

2022 - at Rob Akers Reserve, 32 Pine Rivers State High School students, 500 plants

2023 - at Grahams Rd, Strathpine, 43 students from Bray Park State School, Bray Park State High School, Lawnton Primary School, Pine Rivers State High, 1000 plants

2024 - at Pine Rivers State High School students, 500 plants

2025 - at Pine Rivers State High School, 32 students, 250 plants.

Anyone interested in volunteering for Pine Rivers Koala Care working bees should visit their website here.