Koalas

Koalas

Koala Conservation in Noosa Shire

Koala Conservation Plan

Council prioritises the conservation of koalas across the South East Queensland region, partnering with the State Government organisations, neighbouring local Councils, Universities and researchers to enhance conservation outcomes for this endangered and iconic species.

Under the new Noosa Council’s Koala Conservation Plan (currently under review with completion 2024), Council and wildlife conservation partners will deliver a wide range of koala habitat conservation initiatives across the Shire to avoid, mitigate and offset impacts to the threatened species. The Noosa Shire is committed to ensuring koalas remain an essential part of its biodiversity.

Access to the current Koala Conservation Plan (PDF), is still available until Council roll out the new plan this year.

Koala’s on the Move Campaign 

This campaign is partnered with Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and Department of Transport and Main Roads to help mitigate koala strikes throughout Noosa Shire Council.

Another year, another breeding season!
The peak time for road strikes occurs during koala breeding season between July and December each year.

With the Koala’s on the Move Campaign, digital road signs with the message “Koalas on the move. Be aware” have been placed in hotspot locations along McKinnon Drive and Cooroy-Noosa Road. Louis Bazzo Drive is also emerging as another hotspot this season. This enables drivers awareness when driving through dawn and dusk periods.

Koala Habitat & Restoration Project

Yurol-Ringtail State Forests Conservation Project

  • Almost 2,400 ha of land is being added to the conservation estate in Noosa through the expansion of the Tewantin National Park.
  • Approximately 1,000 ha of land has already been dedicated as National Park with a further 1,400 ha of land currently in the process of being dedicated (expected in August 2024).
  • To date, over 131,000 trees have been planted in the subject area (50,750 trees in the Yurol area and 80,288 trees in the Ringtail area). 
  • A further 186,000 trees are scheduled to be planted over the next 3 years (38,400 trees in the Yurol area and 147,756 trees in the Ringtail area). Including key Koala habitat trees.

Koala Baseline and Monitoring Project

In addition to the Yurol Ringtail Conservation Project, Noosa Council has partnered with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to establish a koala monitoring program in the vicinity of the Yurol and Ringtail State Forests.

  • In October 2021, the state forests comprised 1400 hectares of native forest vegetation and 1000 hectares of plantation licence areas.
  • QUT’s drone was used to capture thermal video footage from (the same) six areas of interest throughout Yurol and Ringtail State Forests.
  • An automated image detection algorithm was then used to identify unique koala heat signatures in the footage which were verified by manual review to ensure accuracy.
  • A total of 36 koalas were detected across all areas in 2023, compared to 55 in 2022 and 34 in 2021.
  • Surveys will be repeated over three consecutive years, to quantify the presence and distribution of koalas therefore, Noosa Council in collaboration with QUT, will be continuing drone monitoring throughout 2024.

Injured and Sick Koalas

At times, Koalas face threats including road strike, dog attack and disease. If you locate an injured, sick or dead koala please immediately contact Wildcare.
Wildcare operates a 24/7 service and undertakes koala rescues on behalf of Noosa Council.

Contact Wildcare - wildcare.org.au
Koalas hotline – Wildcare Australia – 07 5527 2444

Koala Sightings

Council is supporting efforts to ensure the survival of Noosa’s local koalas and is working hard to understand more about the distribution, abundance, and threats to koalas across the Shire. If you see a koala, please report the sighting to Council via:

Koala Safety

Council, with assistance from the Noosa community and koala experts, can continue to implement the safety of this threatened species. Here are some ways residents can help:

  • Always keep domestic animals in control at all times
  • When driving, be on the look-out for koalas, observe koala road signs and reduce driving speed in bushland areas and at dawn and dusk.
  • Protect koala food trees on properties and be involved with tree planting projects such as National Tree Day.
  • Report any koala sightings to Council’s Customer Service phone (07) 5329 6500. This information helps improve the accuracy of the studies.

Environment & Waste