The story oflocal action
Co-operation for koalas
The Scenic Rim Regional Council identified the Fassifern corridor as an important koala crossing across the busy Cunningham Highway.
Fassifern koala corridor
The Scenic Rim Regional Council has been working with a variety of stakeholders to help make this crossing safer for the local koalas.
59 koalas make up the Fassifern region population
To ensure their habitat and the corridor was to improve, a grant was successful to contribute to the project.
Action needed on many fronts
This included several aims to remove weeds, plant habitat, improve koala movement and their safety, learn about the population and involve others.
Repairing & improving koala habitat
While most of the project was concentrated on a targeted riparian corridor adjactent to the local rest area, bits of work also happened across the broader the Fassifern region
Many hundreds of native trees planted
800 native plants were planted for koala habitat.
Managing weeds
4.5 km of linear area along the corridor was managed for weeds, particularly Cat’s Claw creeper and Chinese celtis. The weeds choke up breeding and travel paths.
Community & recreational benefits
Collaboration with partners ensures project success on the ground and for the people and communities in the local areas.
Community
The work not only protects the area for the benefit of the local community, but also involves the local community in restoration through local action and citizen science.
Recreation
The work has beautified the location for the community who use the nearby rest area. Many of the same locals provided data on the koala population.
Funneling koalas is serious business
While the biggest threat to koalas is habitat loss, the local populations also face threats when they attempt to cross busy roads.
Koala proof fencing
The project designs and plans for koala proof fencing to funnel koalas to safer crossing points. This was undertaken by Department of Transport and Main Roads.
How co-operating for koalas is making inroads to protect this threatened species
The primary objective of the project was to repair and improve the koala habitat within the significant Fassifern region.
This included several aims to remove weeds, plant habitat, improve koala movement and their safety, learn about the population and involve others.
Local koala population benefits from riparian corridor restoration adjacent to local rest area
The Scenic Rim Regional Council identified this corridor as an important koala crossing across the busy Cunningham Highway. As a result, the Council has been working with a variety of stakeholders to help make this crossing safer for the local koalas.
Small, but powerful
Although koala habitat is fragmented, the creek and riparian vegetation provide an import corridor for them to travel along. Unfortunately, the riparian vegetation was being smothered by weeds such as Cat’s Claw creeper and Chinese celtis.
Through small but dedicated teams, the vines have been removed from the beautiful established trees, patches of celtis managed and new habitat planted. Koala exclusion fencing will be installed to help koalas cross the highway at safer locations.
This work not only supports the koala population but has a positive impact on the health of the waterway. It has also beautified the location for the community who use the nearby rest area and provided data on the koala population.
Additional support through community groups and organisations has been invaluable in achieving great local outcomes.
Partnership approach
Council has partnered with many stakeholders to help learn about and restore this corridor:
- Watergum.
- Communify.
- Boonah and District Landcare.
- Scenic Rim Rivers Improvement Trust.
- Resilient Rivers Initiative.
- Department of Transport and Main Roads.
- University of Queensland.
New koala sanctuary in the Scenic Rim
Scenic Rim Regional Council’s Biodiversity and Climate Change team is helping to build a new habitat for our local koala population. Here’s a sneak peek of what this future forest will look like one day!
A story ofstewardshipand local action in SEQ
Scenic Rim: Co-operation for koalas
Massive region-wide partnerships approach
The South East Queensland Stewardship Report is proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government
This project has only been made possible by a collaboration of forward-thinking organisations.
Healthy Land & Water
Level 11, 240 Queen St
GPO Box 735
MEANJIN (BRISBANE)
QLD 4001
Australia
Healthy Land and Water Ltd
ABN 91 115 662 989
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