Koala Conservation Plan

Informed by ongoing research and evidence-based assessment and planning, the City of Gold Coast has been actively engaged in the management of koalas, undertaking conservation actions and threat minimisation initiatives in partnership with the community and key stakeholders.

This Koala Conservation Plan builds on the previous experience and learnings of the Elanora-Currumbin Waters, East Coomera and Burleigh Ridge koala conservation plans, and identifies informed and targeted actions to mitigate key threats to koalas across the city.

The City supports some of the most important koala habitat and populations in South East Queensland. These populations occur over 32,000 hectares of habitat within:

  • City- and State-managed reserves
  • large, privately-owned rural land
  • urban and peri-urban areas of the Gold Coast.

Koala habitat and populations within the city are mostly located west of the Pacific Motorway (M1). Some populations remain within the highly-urbanised suburbs of:

  • Coomera-Pimpama
  • Helensvale-Coombabah-Parkwood
  • Burleigh Ridge.

Koalas are listed as endangered:

  • in Queensland under the State Government's Nature Conservation Act 1992
  • under the Federal Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The importance of koalas within the Gold Coast has long been recognised. Various Council policies and strategies incorporate principles for management of populations and habitat. This includes the City Plan.

Our city's growing population and the wide-ranging nature of koalas presents differing conservation issues. These need a range of appropriate management actions. To guide the management of koalas on the Gold Coast, we carry out extensive monitoring, research and conservation actions. This is to ensure their long-term survival and to inform the Koala Conservation Plan.

This Koala Conservation Plan builds on previous experience and learnings from:

  • Elanora-Currumbin Waters koala conservation plan
  • East Coomera koala conservation plan
  • Burleigh Ridge koala conservation plan.

The Plan identifies informed and targeted actions to mitigate key threats to koalas across the city.

The Koala Conservation Plan will continue to be guided by:

  • up-to-date koala population health and sightings data
  • the engagement of community support and participation.

This will ensure the ongoing sustainability of koalas on the Gold Coast. It will also help address the major threats to these local populations.

The Plan enhances inter-agency collaboration and partnership for all contributing stakeholders.

To find out how you can help reduce threats to our city's koala population visit Help save koalas.

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