THORNESIDE resident Adelia Berridge says the Redlands needs a koala hospital or care facility to reduce the marsupial's high death rate.
Speaking at council last week, Ms Berridge said that 457 koalas from the Redlands were admitted to Australia Zoo in 2017.
However, WWF had determined that 73 per cent of koalas were either dead on arrival or needed to be euthanised.
Ms Berridge said a full koala hospital or care unit in the Redlands would reduce the death rate.
She said the facility should be built on land provided by council and run by private enterprise.
Ms Berridge said a koala care unit could be linked to a facility such as the Alma Park Zoo, which has been touted as being re-established in the Redlands.
Ms Berridge said rescued koalas were taken to the Manly Vet which could take 50 minutes depending on where the animal was found.
Koalas were then assessed to see if they were strong enough to travel to Australia Zoo at Beerwah.
"If yes, the koala is medicated, a call made to Moreton Bay Rescue who drive down from Bribie (and) collect our koala," Ms Berridge said.
The koala was put in another vehicle before continuing to Beerwah.
Ms Berridge said a direct vehicle to Beerwah would reduce the 73 per cent death rate.
"A Redland dealer is willing to sponsor a van but the problem there is changing legislation for distance travelled, numbers of drivers per trip and having enough volunteers crossing over in the high volume months of August and September when (there were) 94 admittances," she said.
Ms Berridge said koala care facilities boosted tourism and operated without ongoing council funding.
