CHANGES to state regulations protecting koalas have come under sustained attack from mayors, with Redlands saying 7500 hectares of local koala habitat will no longer be protected.
With council elections looming next month, mayors have called on the government to urgently rethink rushed and inadequate planning reforms.
They say thousands of hectares of habitat will lose protection from today because of the move.
But Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch is selling the plan as a boost to protection.
"More than 690,000 hectares has now been mapped as koala habitat under these new regulations," she said.
"That is an increase of more than 421,000 hectares on what existed previously for state protected koala habitat.
"Over 577,000 hectares in south-east Queensland is now identified as Koala Priority Area, which includes habitat and areas identified for rehabilitation. That's an area twice the size of ACT."
Clearing of habitat within Koala Priority Areas is prohibited under the regulations. Some exemptions to clearing prohibitions will apply, including a once-off 500m2 allowance per premises, as well as an allowance for the removal of dangerous trees, and the creation or maintenance of firebreaks adjacent to infrastructure.
The Local Government Association policy executive - mayors and councillors representing 77 councils - said the government had ignored stakeholder views to rush through regulations that could devastate koalas.
"The country's koala population is in crisis following the recent devastating bushfires," LGAQ president Mark Jamieson said. "...Now is not the time to allow thousands of hectares of ... local koala habitat to go unprotected.
"This government has bungled this process. They have shifted policy at the eleventh hour.
"...Councils were given almost no time over the Christmas break to review the mapping. They were also given no notice of today's regulations, only learning through an early morning email. This is inexcusable."
Redland mayor Karen Williams said passing laws that put at risk vulnerable koalas was bad enough, but to ignore feedback took the cake.
"Without notice we find out that the legislative reforms commenced today."
Government-appointed Koala Advisory Council chairman Mark Townend said the draft strategy and accompanying regulations achieved strong protection.
"The government has worked closely with the Koala Advisory Council to ensure all stakeholders were heard and the result is one that still accepts the principle of providing the necessary housing stock for growth yet protects and enhances the important areas of habitat," he said.
