Koalas receive a $970,000 windfall at Doonan Creek
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Koalas receive a $970,000 windfall at Doonan Creek
Koalas at Sunshine Coast Council’s Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve have been given a hand up and hand out with a $970,000 State Government offset payment.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said offset agreements attempted to compensate for the impact of unavoidable development and turn a negative into a positive.
“For every tree cut down during these developments, a new tree or trees must be planted in a suitable location,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“In this instance the Federally-funded Bruce Hwy project, connecting Frizzo Rd with Sippy Creek Rd at Palmview on the Sunshine Coast, required an environmental offset.
“Because that project area was mapped as likely to support koalas, for every tree cut down, five have to be planted in an area which could also support koalas.
“Thanks to the flora and fauna assessments that are carried out at as part of Sunshine Coast Council’s environment levy reserve purchases, we know there is koala activity on this Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve, making it an ideal receiving site for this $970,000 offset.
“Knowing what lives in our extensive environmental reserve network puts council in the best position to benefit from these unavoidable offsets and we are pleased we’ve been able to work with the State and Federal governments to achieve this win for the koalas.”
Mayor Jamieson said the funding would provide koala habitat on 9.3ha of the 252ha environmental reserve and cover costs including planning for the project, planting trees, undertaking maintenance over the next five years and land access.
Environment Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said the council purchased the reserve with environment levy funds in August 2013. “Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve represents one of the most important wetland areas left on the Sunshine Coast,” Cr McKay said.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said offset agreements attempted to compensate for the impact of unavoidable development and turn a negative into a positive.
“For every tree cut down during these developments, a new tree or trees must be planted in a suitable location,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“In this instance the Federally-funded Bruce Hwy project, connecting Frizzo Rd with Sippy Creek Rd at Palmview on the Sunshine Coast, required an environmental offset.
“Because that project area was mapped as likely to support koalas, for every tree cut down, five have to be planted in an area which could also support koalas.
“Thanks to the flora and fauna assessments that are carried out at as part of Sunshine Coast Council’s environment levy reserve purchases, we know there is koala activity on this Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve, making it an ideal receiving site for this $970,000 offset.
“Knowing what lives in our extensive environmental reserve network puts council in the best position to benefit from these unavoidable offsets and we are pleased we’ve been able to work with the State and Federal governments to achieve this win for the koalas.”
Mayor Jamieson said the funding would provide koala habitat on 9.3ha of the 252ha environmental reserve and cover costs including planning for the project, planting trees, undertaking maintenance over the next five years and land access.
Environment Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said the council purchased the reserve with environment levy funds in August 2013. “Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve represents one of the most important wetland areas left on the Sunshine Coast,” Cr McKay said.
For more information visit Sunshine Coast Council