If elected on March 25, Labor says it will invest around $3 million to establish a local koala hospital.
In an announcement made this morning in Smith’s Creek, Ruse, Labor will also create a Georges River Koala National Park between Glenfield and Appin.
Shadow environment minister Penny Sharpe said Labor in government will talk to locals such as wildlife carer Ricardo Lonza to make sure it gets it right on the koala health care centre plan.
“We will talk to locals who are the experts, and there are so many passionate in this area,’’ Ms Sharpe said.
“What we will do is support funding for koala care after we work out what exactly that looks like and where it would be located.
“The important thing is we’re going to put money into it, around $3m and that’s going to help the work Ricardo does, and the work vets are doing, so we can make sure that there’s an emergency veterinary service and support for the koalas that live in and around all the people here,’’ Ms Sharpe said.
There was a big contingent of Labor MPs and candidates, along with Ricardo and members of his team, at the Smith’s Creek media call.
Campbelltown MP Greg Warren was joined by election candidates Mick Maroney (Holsworthy), Charisma Kaliyanda (Liverpool) and Angus Braiden (Wollondilly) (pictured above).
Mr Warren said public land between Glenfield and Appin will be transferred to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to establish the Georges River Koala National Park.
“This is about helping koalas not just survive but thrive,’’ he said.
Other measures outlined included protective infrastructure like wildlife exclusion fencing along roadways and adequate koala-friendly road crossings.
Labor will also work with other landholders to maximise the protection of wildlife corridors and identify further additions to the National Park.
“I know how passionate South Western Sydney residents are about saving their koalas. This announcement will do just that,” Mr Warren said.
“A Georges River Koala National Park will give koalas the certainty and protection they need, while also providing a beautiful local national parkland for our local communities.”
Got my vote for George’s River National Park to protect our koalas
What about the koalas in the liverpool area
Yippee. We need the Koala / Wildlife Corridors and Koala Trees to be returned between Airds and Bradbury.
Koalas , Wallaroos , Wombats and many more need state of the art Wildlife Overhead Bridges over Appin and Picton Roads not an underground pipe. The Wildlife Overhead Bridges will save Human and Wildlife alike and be a Tourist attraction.
The Georges River Koala National Park is what many in the Environment want but we need it to start from the Royal National Park through Heathcote , Macathur , Appin , Wilton and through to the Blue Mountains National Parks in Wollondilly. The plan is called Rewilding Sydney Koalas Project.
Thankyou Greg Warren, Dr Freelander, Penny Sharpe and Friends.