A chance has presented itself for Redland City Council to demonstrate how sincere it is about wanting to help retain the city’s koalas.
A $1.3 million pathway and footbridge is proposed for the Eprapah catchment area, with the new track to provide access between a housing development on Boundary Road at Thornlands and shopping precincts at Victoria Point.
If the track is built, sensitive areas of koala habitat on Eprapah Creek will be destroyed despite a cycle track already being in place and running from the front of the development to the shopping areas.
Residents and a Landcare group have called on council to stop the second pathway being built and protect the habitat.
Their voices add to those of many others who have been trying for a long time to tell the council that development is harming our wildlife; that unless widespread destruction of habitat is stopped, the city will soon lose the very animal the council itself has chosen for its logo – the koala.
Although environmentalists are often denigrated for their views, science is now backing these residents and adding significant weight to their concerns.
As Redland City Bulletin reported last month, a report for the Environment Department has confirmed that Redland koala populations have plummeted and it may be too late to save the animal in this area.
After the report, scientist and WWF employee Martin Taylor backed the findings, telling the Bulletin that vegetation clearing was the primary reason for the crash in koala numbers.
His study of satellite mapping showed that between 2012 and 2014, 117ha was cleared in the Redlands, with his study not including areas of fewer than 2ha.
Redland mayor Karen Williams has said new ways have to be found to help koalas, as past policies have failed. While the council has planted 38,000 trees over the past five years and the developer will be required to plant three koala trees for every one removed, that won’t stop the koalas at Eprapah being adversely affected, as it takes years for new habitat to become established.
With a serviceable pathway between the two locations already in place, with science showing that habitat destruction has decimated Redland koala populations – leaving their survival hanging in the balance – surely destruction of the koala habitat at Eprapah is not the wisest way forward.