Regional plan aims to protect region’s koalas

A regional plan aimed at protecting koala populations in the northern rivers will be launched tomorrow in Ballina at an event attended by mayors from local councils.

The Regional Koala Communication Plan highlights the regional approach needed to conserve the koala populations, a number of which are classified as nationally significant.

The plan has been developed by the Friends of the Koala group with help from staff from Ballina, Byron, Richmond Valley, Tweed and Lismore councils.

Friends of the Koala president Lorraine Vass said the aim of the plan was to highlight the challenges facing koalas in the northern rsivers as well as educating communities and individuals about what they can do to ensure their survival.

‘Friends of the Koala initially received funding from the NSW Environmental Trust to develop a local communication plan for the organisation but we felt that we should be working more closely with the region’s councils because we share common goals about educating communities about their role in the long-term survival of koalas,’ Ms Vass said.

‘We thought we would achieve better outcomes by taking a regional approach to community education and we have now been working with staff from councils across the northern rivers for the past 12 months.

‘Our aim is show the regional community some of the problems facing koalas and what people can do to protect them.

‘We have developed two videos that show some of the common problems that koalas face in their day to day survival.

‘They are quite hard hitting in their approach, but unfortunately they reflect reality.’

‘We are hoping this is the first of many regional projects to be undertaken by Friends of the Koala and local councils.’

The northern rivers is home to a number of nationally significant populations of koalas.