An NSW parliamentary inquiry, published earlier this year, found koalas would be extinct in the state by 2050 unless governments take urgent action to address habitat loss.
The year-long inquiry found habitat loss remains the biggest threat to the species' survival and that continuous logging and habitat clearing has been ongoing, despite the toll it's taking.
“Given the scale of loss as a result of the fires to many significant local populations, the committee believes the koala will become extinct in New South Wales well before 2050 and that urgent government intervention is required to protect their habitat and address all other threats to their ongoing survival,” the report said.
Ever since news of the possible destruction of the Port Stephens habitats, residents have run a campaign that has garnered the attention of celebrities including Magda Szubanski, Celeste Barber and Olivia Newton-John, urging the government to reject the development.
Chantal Parslow Redman, the Co-Campaign Manager of Save Port Stephens Koalas, said the government had chosen “rocks over koalas.”
“The minister’s statement says this area didn’t burn—that’s the whole point. This is koala habitat,” Parslow Redman said. “This just shows that nothing will stop this government from destroying koala habitat.
“It’s a heartbreaking decision," she added.
How To Help:
Donate to Save Port Stephens Koalas
Adopt a tree to help the koala population. Trees can be purchased through a number of companies including Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, the Australian Koala Foundation and WWF Australia.
