Port Macquarie-Hastings Council accepts two koala-related grants

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has accepted grant offers of $48,000 for a koala road strike project and $14,000 towards a koala monitoring project.

The funding, from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, is through a program which aims to reverse the decline of the state’s koala population.

The koala road strike project aims to provide immediate on the ground measures to reduce koala road strike on Ocean Drive between Koala Street and Matthew Flinders Drive intersections.

Ocean Drive is one of three koala road strike black spots in the local government area and road strike is the single largest contributor to koala mortality and the decline in the local koala population, a council report said.

A trailer mounted message board will increase awareness among motorists.

The message board will provide roaming koala road strike advisory information on Ocean Drive and other roads where required during the koala breading season from September to March, the council report said.

Some $10,000 of the funding is planned to go towards the purchase of a trailer mounted message board.

The remainder of the trailer purchase cost will be met by the plant reserve for use within the infrastructure division.

Vegetation removal from the Ocean Drive median strip will help motorists visibility, making it easier to spot koalas.

Painted road pavement treatments will advise of the koala crossing area on Ocean Drive.

The project also involves preparation of a long-term comprehensive koala fencing design.

Meanwhile, the koala monitoring project is aimed at providing information on the home range and seasonal migration patterns of koalas in the western half of the local government area, the council report said. 

The information will assist in design and implementation of koala recovery plans.

The funding goes towards the purchase of monitoring collars.

In-kind funding is required from the council to cover staff time.

The report said the council’s ecologist has the necessary qualification and experience and will be appropriately licensed by the Department of Primary Industries to handle native wildlife in a research capacity.