New trees and fences protect koalas

Koalas in Kallangur and Murrumba Downs will benefit from three new sites for tree planting, along with almost a kilometre of new fencing.

Council’s green infrastructure program is rolling out 920 metres of wildlife safety fencing along Dohles Rocks Rd and will plant 129 trees across three locations.

Mayor Peter Flannery says the $264,000 project will make the area safer for wildlife and deliver critical habitat for koalas.

“The only way to save koalas on our roads is for drivers to obey our slow down signs and drive to the conditions,” Mayor Flannery says.

Reckless drivers

“In reality there are still reckless drivers out there hitting koalas, which means we need fencing in critical areas to stop koalas venturing onto roads like Dohles Rocks.

“These works will require the removal of some vegetation to install the fences, but we will plant three times as many as we remove to provide new koala habitat,” he explains.

The three locations for tree planting along the Murrumba Downs Habitat Corridor area are a 99 Goodfellows Rd and Pam Gorring Park at Kallangur and Brays Road Park at Murrumba Downs.

Population grows

“Unlike other areas of Australia where koala populations are in decline, we are successfully growing local koala numbers year-on-year so it’s absolutely critical that we provide more habitat for them,” Mayor Flannery says.

Safety boost

Deputy Mayor Denise Sims (Div 7) says the works are critical to increasing safety for koalas and for motorists.

“I’ve been receiving lots of enquiries from residents about what is being constructed along the tree line on Dohles Rocks Rd in Kallangur - it’s great to see this project underway,” she says.

“This area in Kallangur is a known wildlife corridor and we’re lucky to see plenty of koala movement, so the infrastructure not only protect koalas but provides habitat to support population growth.

“The three locations specifically chosen for offset planting will help ensure these trees grow to become thriving koala habitat for decades to come.”

The project will start in late September and take four weeks to complete, depending on weather.

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