“Koalatown’’ – it looks and sounds like a tourism campaign catchphrase, but it’s actually a call to arms for Campbelltown residents to roll up their sleeves and help local koalas survive.
Campbelltown and the surrounding bushland is home to about 300 koalas which are believed to be one of the only chlamydia free populations in Australia.
Koalatown is a community initiative that encourages residents to take actions that support living in harmony with the local koala population.
Part of the initiative is aimed particularly at those living near bushland, calling on these residents to take meaningful actions on their own properties and when driving on local roads.
Mayor George Brticevic said Campbelltown residents had always shown a passion and commitment to protecting local wildlife.
“Campbelltown has always been a place where koalas have lived and flourished and we want to ensure that it remains so in the future,” Cr Brticevic said.
“Many amazing people have researched and studied our local koalas over many years to provide us with the in-depth knowledge that we have today,” he said.
“It is important that as a community we work together to protect our precious koala colony.
“We know that across our townships are some of the most significant urban koala corridors in the state and we are investing resources to ensure their ongoing conservation and protection,” he said.
To launch Koalatown, council is offering residents free packs containing items like a Koalatown dog lead to encourage responsible pet ownership in areas where koalas travel or live.
“Koalatown is about building community awareness about the simple actions that we as residents can take to help us live harmoniously alongside koalas and other wildlife,” Cr Brticevic said.
“The nomadic nature of koalas means that they often share our backyards and our roads as they travel between and across the habitat corridors within our urban areas,” he said.
“More than 70 percent of koalas presented to the veterinarians have been attacked by dogs or struck by a vehicle.
“We want people to think about how simple changes in behaviour, such as driving carefully on the roads or keeping your dog on a lead near bushlands, can help keep our koalas safe.”
Over the coming months council will be holding a number of Koalatown themed events and programs.
These include posting informative content on council’s social media channels to raise awareness about the work of carers and rescue organisations in the region and what residents can do to make their home and suburb a safe place for koalas to move through.
