Logan and Albert Conservation Association

Koalas get more than 90 per cent of their water from eucalyptus leaves. Eucalyptus leaves - which koalas depend on for survival - are being destroyed by abnormally high levels of greenhouse gases. Scientists warned early in  2008 that increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were reducing nutrient levels in the leaves, and also boosting their toxic tannin content.

Koala is an aboriginal word that means "doesn't drink". This is because koalas get more than 90 per cent of their water from eucalyptus leaves, which are toxic to most species. The only time they drink is when they fall ill or there is not enough moisture on leaves such as during droughts.

Click read more to view photos taken in Victoria earlier this year. They illustrate how desperately thirsty these wild animals are if they are prepared to approach humans to get water.

LACA recently submitted this media release to local papers: Jimboomba Times, Logan West Leader, Beaudesert Times.

The recent rehabilitation and return of Babe the koala to Jimboomba after a dog attack is great news. Despite this happy ending, koalas in South-east Queensland are under serious threat and urgently need our help.

According to the EPA and Australian Koala Foundation, koala populations are in decline in many parts of South-east Queensland. The greatest threats to koalas after habitat loss are cars and dogs.

GHD consultants are currently collecting koala sightings for South-east Queensland as part of a state government Koala Habitat Mapping Project. Koala information can be forwarded to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5 pm Friday 13th February.

A previous report by GHD consultants for Moreton Regional Council in 2008 showed a 46% decline in the last 6 years in Pine Rivers' urban koala population density. An EPA report in 2007 also showed koala numbers in the Koala Coast Area (including parts of Brisbane City Council, Redlands and Logan) had declined by 27 % from 6246 in 1997 to 4610 in 2005. Koala populations in Logan had declined by 26% and Brisbane by 21%. The largest declines occurred in areas associated with the Urban Footprint.

"The Koala Coast Area has traditionally been recognized in South-east Queensland as having a higher density of koalas and being a koala stronghold. But with koala numbers now confirmed to be in decline in these areas, this makes koalas in other parts of South-east Queensland such as Logan and Scenic Rim crucial to sustaining this iconic species for the future," said Anne Page, spokesperson for the Logan and Albert Conservation Association.

The EPA report also concluded that it was critical to maintain koala populations in urban and bushland areas to sustain viable and healthy populations.

"It is critical that koala habitat is identified and protected now for the best environmental outcomes. Koalas are the faunal emblem of Queensland and an iconic Australian animal famous worldwide - it is up to all of us to help protect this species for future generations."

Despite these predicted declines in koalas in South-east Queensland, massive development is still proposed for Logan Council and Scenic Rim Regional Council with population increases of 30 000 for Park Ridge MPA, 25 000 for Greenbank, 60 000 for Flagstone and 60 000 for Yarrabilba as part of the SEQRP. The koala populations of Logan Council and the Scenic Rim Regional Council are still unknown. To date no official koala surveys have been conducted to identify and map Koala Conservation Areas.

"Under the Koala Conservation Plan, the areas with the highest level of protection are Koala Conservation Areas, but these areas must be surveyed and mapped. Without koala mapping, no serious protection is given to koalas," said Anne Page. Previous community reported sightings collected by LACA confirm that koalas occur in Logan Village, Chambers Flat, Park Ridge, Park Ridge South, Munruben Woods, Munruben Forest, Greenbank, New Beith, Flagstone, North Maclean, Tamborine, Mundoolun, Jimboomba, Stockleigh, Yarrabilba, Buccan, Veresdale Scrub, Cedar Vale, Canungra, Palen Creek, Mt Barney, Rathdowney, Cedar Creek, Wolffdene, Rathdowney, Beaudesert, and Bromelton.

You can help protect the koala

• Do encourage local and state government to fast track koala mapping for local area
• Do drive slowly through wildlife signed areas or habitat areas
• Do secure dogs at night
• Do report koala sightings in your local area to EPA Wildnet.

The community may also comment on the Draft Koala State Planning Regulatory Provisions until 27 February.

Enquiries can be made on 1800 070 609. More detail can be obtained on www.laca.org.au

Contact Details: Anne Page (Secretary) ph 3297 0624 or Kathy Faldt (Vice President) ph 3200 0129

The tragic bushfires in Victoria will change forever the way we live in the bush. Both human and animal suffering and death are cruel and soul destroying. However the people of Australia and global communities are rallying to support the survivors.

'Sam' the koala may or may not have been a victim of the fires but she is definitely a victim of the intense drying heat in Victoria which has dessicated the leaves of the eucalypts such that thirst has overcome warriness of humans  for many Victorian koalas who have allowed humans close enough to provide water.

It is commonly believed that koalas do not drink water. Whenever they do it is an indication of stress.

These websites are accepting donations to help the animal survivors - both native and domestic animals. You can donate securely online at www.wildlifevictoria.org.au   and www.rspcavic.org.au.

IFAW's Emergency Relief Team is already on the ground helping local wildlife caretakers with search and rescue operations, providing medical treatment to burned and abandoned animals that are emerging from the fire zone - koalas, possums, kangaroos, dogs, even horses and birds - as well as food and vet supplies. But recovery for many animals will be a long process, and we desperately need to raise funds to help over the long term with medical supplies, animal cages, blankets and towels.

You can also donate through IFAW the International Fund for Animal Welfare to provide emergency relief to animals in crises, and save pets and wildlife around the world.

'New research makes roads safer for koalas' is the statement released on Monday, 16 February 2009 by Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt. The press release is quoted towards the end of this article.

While it is commendable that the minister and his Departments recognize the terrible impact that road construction has on the mortality of koalas and other animals, this 'solution' is not recognising the major impact on the long term survival of koalas in SEQ and elsewhere.

The greatest cause of decline for koalas is LOSS OF HABITAT for any reason. The future proposal for huge increases in population to SEQ, Logan Ipswich and Scenic Rim Region in particular, will result in habitat loss for koalas for both human dwellings and infrastructure deemed necessary those people.

                                     Logan & Albert Conservation Association has been advised that groups can express interest by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   whereupon an information package will be distributed describing how to supply any information. We are doing this. If you do not belong to a group and have sightings to report please contact us.

Contributions will be required by 13 February 2009 to the appointed study team at GHD.

NOW CLOSED but comment on QG Draft Koala Plan open until 27 February 2009

The Queensland Government is taking action to address threats to koalas in Southeast Queensland based on recommendations of the Koala Taskforce. One of the key actions recommended is to undertake extensive mapping of koala habitat in South East Queensland.

EPA Queensland Environmental Protection Agency has commenced a koala habitat assessment and mapping study across SEQ to assist in the protection of this threatened species in the region.

Anthony Mitrow reporter from the Jimboomba Times continues to follow local koala's story of survival in paper dated 21 January 2009. The koala's future survival depends on all of us. Unless Babe's habitat is surveyed and mapped for inclusion in the 2009 SEQ Regional Plan it will have no protection. REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS and help make this happen.

BABE the koala has been hit by a car, chased by dogs and suffered a urinary tract infection, but the little survivor has now been released back into his natural habitat in Jimboomba after months of rehabilitation.
The young animal has spent the last four and a half months at Australia Zoo where it underwent treatment for a range of injuries.
Babe first came to the attention of Jimboomba resident John King-Bayliss when he found the animal on Marks Road, Jimboomba. Mr King-Bayliss chased the dogs away and contacted Logan City Council who searched the area for the dogs which were not found, before confirming the koala was safe.

Later that evening Mr King-Bayliss found Babe injured on the side of the road.

"It had been hit by a car. It had blood coming from his mouth and he couldn't use one of his arms." Mr King-Bayliss said.he made calls to animal wildlife organizations but was unable to get help until he was given the number for Waterford-based wildlife carer Mark Alexander from Wildlife Answers .

Scientists and researchers from Queensland University  and  from Queensland University of Technology are trying to learn more about koalas' breeding habits by listening to the animals' bellows. Mobile phones and GPS collars are being used. This study was reported by National Geographic.  The brief news clip with male koala vocalisations is available here.

Meanwhile concerned citizens fear for the long term survival of koalas in their natural environment. Debbie Tabart from the Australian Koala Fountation is featured on this video advocating for a National Koala Plan.

The draft South East Queensland Koala State Planning Regulatory Provisions came into effect on 12 December 2008.  The Department of Infrastructure and Planning is now the concurrence agency under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 for defined development in Urban Koala Areas and in Koala Sustainability Areas that are within the Urban Footprint as defined in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026. 

You can download a copy of draft SEQ Koala SPRP from this page 128kb pdf and copies of regulatory maps are here. Unfortunately there is no mapping - and no protection for country Logan (former Beaudesert Shire) and Scenic Rim areas. A list of future growth areas includes Bahrs Scrub, Beaudesert, Bromelton, Canungra, Flagstone, Greenbank, Park Ridge, and Yarrabilba - none of them mapped ie with some protection.