Nature conservation
Mapping of New Koala Habitat Areas
The draft South East Queensland Koala State Planning
Regulatory Provisions came into effect on 12 December 2008. The
Department of Infrastructure and Planning is now the concurrence
agency under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 for defined
development in Urban Koala Areas and in Koala Sustainability Areas
that are within the Urban Footprint as defined in the South East
Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026. You can find out if your
property is within the Urban Footprint by using the Department of
Infrastructure and Planning interactive mapping tool at
http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/regional-planning/land-use-categories.html
Please contact the Department of Infrastructure and Planning
regarding assessing applications within the Urban Footprint at
www.dip.qld.gov.au or
Department of Infrastructure and Planning
Southern Region Planning Group
Postal address: Reply Paid 15009 City East
Brisbane Qld 4002
By fax: + 61 7 3235 4071
By email: seqkoalareview@dip.qld.gov.au
All enquiries phone: Free call 1800 070 609
Copies of the draft State Planning Regulatory Provisions are available for inspection and collection free of charge from the Department of Infrastructure and Planning Brisbane Office, Ground Level at 63 George Street, and from the DERM Customer Service Centre, Ground Level, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane.
Koala Habitat Areas are statutory areas identified by the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026 and the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016 (the Koala Plan), and are referred to as either:
- Koala Conservation Areas;
- Koala Sustainability Areas; or
- Urban Koala Areas
It is within those areas that development is assessed against koala conservation criteria, and DERM may be triggered as a concurrence agency in the development assessment process.
Koala habitat areas are mapped within the South East Queensland (SEQ) region and show where koala habitat has been identified, surveyed and acknowledged as known areas that koalas may use.
The objective of the Queensland Government is to facilitate additional koala mapping within SEQ regions for incorporation into local government planning schemes and within the State Map found within the Koala Plan.
To assist in the extension of the current koala habitat mapping, the Queensland Government has committed funding over the next four years to assist local governments undertake mapping work on a dollar for dollar basis.
This initiative will allow for Koala Habitat Areas to be protected from inappropriate development, broaden DERM's concurrence role to assess proposed development against koala conservation criteria, and aid in the protection of koala habitat.
The funding is for allocation to local governments within the SEQ region where the threats to koalas from urban expansion are the greatest. The funding is provided with the explicit intent that local governments will use their best endeavours to recognise new Koala Conservation Areas, Koala Sustainability Areas and Urban Koala Areas within their planning schemes and longer term strategic plans.
The Koala Plan Policy 7: Koala habitat assessment and mapping, details the method by which koala surveys should be undertaken and koala habitat maps incorporated into planning schemes.
2006/ 2007 - 1st funding round
The 2006/ 2007 koala habitat mapping funding round was the first time funding had been made available to South East Queensland local governments to undertake additional koala habitat mapping under the Koala Plan.
DERM allocated approximately $127,000 to the successful applicants, Caloundra City Council, and a joint application consisting of Caboolture Shire Council, Pine Rivers Shire Council and Redcliffe City Council with assistance of SEQ Catchments.
The mapping projects are currently nearing finalisation.
2007/ 2008 - 2nd funding round
DERM has allocated $61,000 to the successful applicant Redland City Council.
2008/ 2009 - 3rd funding round
The application period for the third round of koala habitat mapping funding has closed and applications are currently under consideration.
Further information
For further information on funding available for local governments please contact the Department of Environment and Resource Management via the following details.
Department of Environment and Resource Management
Customer Service Centre
Phone: 3227 8185
Email: info@epa.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 20 April 2009
