News
22 October, 2024
Concern over koala habitat
A proposed residential development in Fernvale has raised community concerns over its potential impact on endangered koala populations.
United Development Corporation Pty Ltd (UDC) has lodged a Development Application (DA) to merge four lots between Brouff Road, Forest Hill Fernvale Road, and Goan Lane into 121 residential lots, along with new roads, open space, and drainage reserves.
The development would result in the loss of approximately 11 hectares of koala habitat, including 2,360 mature koala trees.
This potential loss of habitat has prompted residents to petition council to reject the application.
The petition, started by Katrina Marentis, has garnered over 700 signatures and states:
“This corridor is not only a home for our iconic koalas, but it also contributes to our local ecological stability.
If not for us, who would be the spokespeople for these silent victims of urban sprawl? We are not against development, but we firmly believe there needs to be a balance between progress and preservation.”
Ecological assessments conducted by Saunders Havill Group for UDC found evidence of koala presence through direct sightings and scats.
The surveys recorded “low” koala usage, with results indicating “the vegetation is utilised by an individual, or small number of koala.”
The developer’s Koala Management Plan (KMP) noted that the surrounding landscape had limited ecological value, dominated by cleared rural land and residential areas.
The KMP identified a moderate risk of potential injury or mortality caused by vegetation clearing, as well as the threat from vehicle use during construction.
One of the proposed management actions is to engage a Fauna Spotter Catcher (FSC) to oversee wildlife safety during the process.
Despite these measures, local residents and environmental advocates argue that the development poses an unacceptable threat to koalas.
According to a submission letter template shared by conservation group Care4esK, recent koala sightings underscore the importance of the habitat, with offset planting being criticised, as it allegedly takes decades for new trees to mature into viable koala habitats.
The development’s principal planner, Liam Donald from DTS, said the proposal would retain 26,647 square metres of koala habitat and noted the land is designated for future residential use by Somerset Council.
“The Koala Corridor connectivity in Fernvale near the site has already been compromised by previous developments,” Mr Donald said.
“The site is now surrounded by small patches of vegetation and existing and approved residential houses, the Fernvale State School, District Sport Netball Courts/Ovals/Carparks, and the future private school identified by Council, that will generate increased levels of vehicle traffic along the Brisbane Valley Highway, Forest Hill Fernvale Rd and Goan Lane.”
He added that “koalas will be able to access the retained habitat on the western boundary, which will be separated from the residential development.”
The submission letter template distributed to residents states the site is entirely within a State Government-designated ‘Core Koala Habitat’ and a ‘Matters of State Environmental Significance’ (MSES) area, making it an inappropriate location for development.
“There is no justification for further destruction of core koala habitat when alternatives exist,” the letter stated.
“To approve this development would set a dangerous precedent that profits and expansion are more important than preserving what little remains of the natural environment.”
Community submissions are due by this Friday, October 25.
