Green light for koala management blueprint

The koalas that call bushland around Campbelltown home will get more protection than ever now that council’s management plan has got the green light.

The Campbelltown “comprehensive koala plan of management’’ has just been given interim approval by the State Government.

Internationally renowned professional wildlife ecologist and koala expert Dr Stephen Phillips of Biolink ecological consultancy was involved in preparing the plan.

The plan, which was submitted to the state government four years ago, contains conservation actions and planning guidelines for properties within koala habitat.

These include council undertaking and supporting habitat rehabilitation works, monitoring koala populations and education programs and developing and enforcing planning controls over koala habitat management;

Residents living on properties more than one hectare in size can now rely on the new comprehensive plan of management when undertaking home improvements instead of being required to go through the time consuming and costly preparation of their own plans of management.

Development applications will also be fast tracked for people who are completing home improvements that do not remove any vegetation or impact on koala habitat to help speed up the planning process.

Council is now working to align the final version of the plan with the State Government’s new koala State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).

“This plan of management provides clear planning guidance for residents living in areas of koala habitat while ensuring its preservation is a priority in the planning process,” says Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic.

“The objectives of the plan are also being delivered through our koalatown program to enhance community awareness and opportunities to support our koalas through their own actions,” Cr Brticevic said.

“I’ve been pleased to see many of the actions and frameworks in our plan have been incorporated into the koala SEPP,” he said.