I am writing to you on behalf of Friends of the Koala’s 350 members. We are a wildlife rehabilitation group with an energetic involvement in habitat restoration and enhancement as well as research, community education and advocacy.  We have been engaged in this work for some 22 years.

We are asking you and all candidates on the Northern Rivers standing for election to local government five questions on issues which we believe are essential for the conservation of the region’s free-ranging koalas in order to ascertain the support we can expect from you should you be elected to office on 13 September 2008.

Koalas are listed as vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.  That means “…the species is likely to become endangered unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.”  Lismore/ Byron/ Ballina/Tweed/Kyogle/Richmond Valley is one of 105 local government areas to which State Environmental Planning Policy No 44 – Koala Habitat Protection (SEPP 44) applies.

The koala populations on the Northern Rivers are of state and national significance.  They are also under severe threat. In 2004, the Australian Koala Foundation, in its unsuccessful bid for national vulnerable listing for the koala under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, stated:

            “Modelling of the predicted number of years to koala population extinction

               in the NSW North Coast bioregion, from worst to best case scenario is 9.89 to 43.78

               years.”

Earlier this year, Professor Ian Hume of the University of Sydney reported scientific evidence of the detrimental effect of climate change-induced increases in carbon dioxide levels on koala habitat. On the Northern Rivers many koalas survive in habitat that is already marginal.  It may not take much to tip the balance even further and within a time-frame previously unimaginable.  

Our questions are:

·        What is your position in regard to the development of a Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management for the [name of LGA]?

·        What is your opinion about extending the [name of LGA] Tree Preservation Order into rural areas?

·        What consideration do you think should be given to koalas in regard to subdivisions, road building and traffic management in [name of LGA]?

·        Are you prepared to support Friends of the Koala by advocating koala conservation issues and measures with your peers and colleagues in State and Federal governments? Please give your reasons.

·        What value do you place on koalas in the Northern Rivers’ community?

Or

·        How important do you consider koalas are to the Lismore/Byron,etc community? What reasons do you have for thinking this?

We ask that your response to these key questions be posted or emailed back to Friends of the Koala no later than Tuesday 26 August 2008.

  By post:  The Secretary

               Friends of the Koala, Inc.

               PO Box 5034

               EAST LISMORE  NSW  2480

By email: info@friendsofthekoala.org

Your response will be rated for Friends of the Koala endorsement as a Koala Friendly Candidate.