Koala Advisory Council Announced

The Queensland Government has announced the members of the Koala Advisory Council, who will advise on the development of a new koala conservation strategy for Queensland, and oversee the implementation of recommendations suggested by the Koala Expert Panel Report. 

This comes following the establishment of the Queensland Koala Expert Panel in July 2016 – a panel formed by the Queensland Government to provide recommendations to address the declining koala population in SEQ. The Queensland Expert Panel’s Report, ‘A New Direction for the Conservation of Koalas in Queensland’, outlined six recommendations and a range of actions, which included the creation of a Koala Advisory Council.

Due to meet on Thursday 13 December 2018, the Koala Advisory Council will advise Government on the implementation of the other recommendations from the Queensland Koala Expert Panel Report. 

Other recommendations include, a review of the components of planning framework that relate to koala habitat protection, finalising the revised koala threat mapping and identifying priority areas for koala conservation efforts.

The Property Council has long advocated for the State and Commonwealth Governments to work together to undertake a strategic assessment of environmental matters in SEQ to remove the current piecemeal, ad hoc approach to koala protection.

Via the Koala Advisory Council, the Property Council will continue to advocate the importance of providing long-term certainty to the development industry regarding where development is permitted to occur.
 
Members of Koala Council include:

• RSPCA Queensland CEO, Mark Townend (Chair)
• University of Queensland Associate Professor and Chair of the Koala Expert Panel, Jonathan Rhodes
• General Manager of Dreamworld’s Life Sciences Division, Al Mucci
• CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, Kirsty Chessher-Brown
• Director of Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Rosemary Booth
• Queensland Campaign Manager with the Wilderness Society, Gemma Plesman
• Senior Advisor, Local Government Association of Queensland, Kristy Gooding
• Executive Officer, Healthy Land and Water, Julie McLellan
• CEO, Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, Cameron Costello
• Chief Operating Officer of MOSAIC, Marina Vit
• CEO of Timber Queensland, Mick Stephens
• Representatives from various Government departments