In 2011 a huge Forest Red Gum and Scribbly Gums (used by koalas) were felled to make way for the Pottsville Medical Centre.
A $50,000 offset was dedicated for a koala crossing on Coronation Avenue (a key connection between Koala Beach, Pottsville Environmental Park and the Pottsville Wetlands). This linkage is vital to ensure koala gene diversity and combat inbreeding.
Tweed Shire Council had a choice between an underpass/road culvert or signage painted on the road to improve koala habitat connectivity and reduce road strike. If road culverts were chosen, minor koala fencing and planting was to be incorporated into future road works.
Council chose signs on the road costing $35,000, even though signs have not proved to protect koalas. The community asked council for plans last year and only got them on 30 May 2016, the day they started road works – not enough time to negotiate for better outcomes.
Numerous letters were written to council pleading for the underpass however council argued (among other things) that:
a) it would cost too much
b) works had already begun and would cost $30K to stop
c) koala fencing costs were not covered by offset
d) koala fencing would have to be on private land (when most of it could be on council-owned road reserves)
e) the culvert would be below water levels and unsafe or the culvert would not drain well
f) 1.2m high culverts don’t work for koalas (certain council staff have evidence they do)
g) koalas could traverse through town and rely on public protection alone
Council receives Excellence in the Environment awards and claims their Koala Plan of Management and tree-planting programs will save koalas, yet won’t find funds (eg from NSW Environmental Trust grant) to do what is so desperately needed for the endangered local koala population.
I wonder if council has profited from investing the $50,000 offset for the last five years and if so why not use the profit to help with this underpass?
Concerned residents united on Coronation Ave (near road works) on Saturday 30 July to protest council’s lack of action to help our coastal koalas.
Menkit Prince, Uki
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
