WE are putting questions on the big issues to candidates running in the Port Macquarie-Hastings council election.
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These are based on issues our readers have voted as being of most importance to our community.
We asked: What more can council do to protect koalas/koala habitats?
Here are their responses in the order groups/candidates appear on the ballot paper:
Read more:
- Who is in the running for Port Macquarie-Hastings council election?
- Mayoral candidates go head to head in final election forum
- 2021 Council Elections: Orbital Road corridor, roads and traffic management
- 2021 Council Elections: Management of Lake Cathie waterway
- 2021 Council Elections: Population growth and supporting infrastructure
- 2021 Council Elections: Development, protecting our coastline and housing
GROUP A - Fighters for Our Region: Lisa Intemann, Kingsley Searle, Stewart Cooper, Narelle Milligan, Paul Bradford
Our local koala population is vitally important to residents, tourism and the species, being recognised as the largest free-living east coast koala population, and unique in having four distinct genomes. Having such a significant koala population is estimated to contribute $50 million to our local economy annually.
It is imperative council takes effective action to protect the health and survival of local koalas, against significant threats from habitat loss due to recent fires and ongoing clearing for development.
Council's 2018 Biodiversity Strategy and Koala Recovery Strategy are good plans, and Team Intemann is committed to stronger implementation of both. We will also ensure a progressive audit of the extent of natural lands.
NSW has designated Port Macquarie-Hastings as a population growth area, and there is constantly pressure for new development here. Council must soon plan for new growth areas, and our team is determined that environment is protected. We will consult with all stakeholders and experts to ensure protection of high-quality habitat and corridors for wildlife movement.
However, koala protection also depends on NSW enacting strong legislation regarding Koala Plans of Management. There has been confusion and inaction in that regard at state level over several years. Our team will join with locals and other councils across NSW to push for clear action on this by the state government.
Our mayoral candidate, Lisa Intemann, was instrumental in 2019 in causing council to investigate important local lands for conservation. In that process, the largely undeveloped 200ha of private land comprising 147 The Ruins Way was identified as vitally important for survival and recovery of our koalas.
Council subsequently advised NSW that the land should be added to Lake Innes Nature Reserve. Our team will strenuously pursue that outcome.
GROUP B - Hastings First: Nik James Lipovac, Kerry Fox, Linda Lenord, Michael Clarke and Justin Hardie
Port Macquarie and the Hastings region is the unofficial "Koala Capital of Australia".
We should do everything in our power to ensure we protect this iconic creature, maintain and expand its habitat and give them the best opportunity to thrive over the years to come following the loss of so many during recent devastating bushfires. Hastings First will:
- Continue to support the Koala Recovery Strategy and Koala Recovery Partnership.
- Update the Strategy by working with the Koala Hospital and Koala Recovery Partnership as a leading authority to assist with Council Policy.
- Work with our State MP to explore ways for biodiversity land purchase funds to be directed into the area for use on Koala Habitat preservation - e.g. 147 The Ruins Way.
- Consider all alternatives to proposals which impact koala habitat.
Following the recent petition, it's great to hear Leslie Williams MP has already met with the Environment Minister about the proposed acquisition of 147 The Ruins Way.
The Greater Port Tourism Association, Forestry Corporation and Koala Hospital have also announced grand plans for a new education and breeding facility in the Cowarra State Forest which will be a world-first tourism experience for locals and visitors. They'll also redevelop their Lord Street site. This will greatly assist in protecting and increasing our koala population.
GROUP C - The Greens:Lauren Edwards, Stuart Watson, Drusi Megget and Les Mitchell
The Greens will move that the new council hastens the review of the koala recovery strategy and specifically prepares a report on:
a. The status of koalas and koala habitat in the LGA;
b. What planning measures are currently in place to protect them; and
c. What further could be done by council to ensure enhanced protection of koalas and koala habitat in the LGA.
We will ask the council to once again write to the Premier, Minister for Planning & Public Spaces, Minister for Energy and Environment, and Minister for Agriculture urging them to:
a. Maintain council dual consent provisions for Private Native Forestry in Local Environmental Plans, to account for the variability within regions, zoning objectives, site survey needs, traffic and infrastructure limitations, and consultation with adjoining land holders;
b. Maintain council's ability to regulate environmental zones to protect, manage and restore lands of high ecological, scientific, cultural or aesthetic values, particularly for the protection of core koala habitat;
c. Provide planning certainty, resources and support for identifying core koala habitat and the development of a comprehensive Koala Plan of Management for the whole of the Port Macquarie Hastings LGA; and
d. Allow for departures from the Koala Habitat Protection Guideline based on existing surveys, local circumstances or emerging technology.
GROUP D - Team Pinson: Peta Pinson, Adam Roberts, Sharon Griffiths, Danielle Maltman and Josh Slade
Team Pinson is 100 per cent in favour of preserving and supporting our local koala population.
What has been disappointing over many years is the fact that we still have koalas killed or injured after being hit by passing traffic.
Seeing koalas wandering around the CBD areas in search of food trees is deeply troubling. With less than five percent of our local government area currently urbanised, there is great capacity and opportunity to develop koala breeding grounds or sanctuaries away from the developed areas.
Team Pinson would fully support multiple dedicated koala sanctuary areas and employ measures to prevent koalas and other wildlife from venturing too far into urban areas in aid of helping prevent premature death or injury.
By better vegetation corridor planning and developing safe zones for koalas, we can get the balance right between protecting koalas and continuing to develop the area to support housing and urban growth.
GROUP E - Team Sheppard: Rachel Sheppard, Greg Freeman, Linda Elbourne, Ethan Francis
Our community wants action to protect koalas. To achieve this, we need a mayor and team who will take a strategic approach to integrating sustainability and the needs of future generations into council's broader economic, housing and infrastructure planning.
Finalising the long-awaited koala management plan will be an important part of the puzzle. However - taken alone - it won't be enough.
Port Macquarie-Hastings has one of the fastest growing populations in NSW. Many residents are unhappy with the costs of housing, employment prospects, inadequate infrastructure, and the destruction of our local environment - including koala habitat.
We should address these issues head-on, with a coherent approach that brings key strategies into alignment with each other and with what our community wants. Strategy isn't exciting, but it's how smart change happens.
The relevant strategies include the Urban Growth Management Strategy, draft long term Housing Strategy, upcoming Infrastructure Strategy, upcoming Local Environmental Plan review, Climate Change Response strategy, and draft Economic Development Strategy.
These strategies must consider the long-term benefits and consequences of our actions today, with equal weight given to economic, community and environmental factors.
From a pragmatic perspective koalas offer the trifecta of social, economic and environmental benefits.
Economic factors currently drive decision-making, so it's important to note that the koala is a signature part of the Port Macquarie tourist experience, and therefore an active contributor to our tourist economy and employment.
Regarding community factors: koalas were part of our local identity well before their population was decimated by the Black Summer fires, and our community wants future generations to be able to see koalas in their lifetime.
Regarding environmental factors: koalas play an important role in our local ecosystems.
Koala habitat is such a no brainer, it's a discussion that's been going on at forums and round table talkfests for way to long.
If we keep knocking over large tracks of land for development and mowing down habitat corridors of course there numbers will continue to decline.
Twenty or 30 years ago you would see koalas on a daily basis, now it's rare.
It all comes down to development and population growth of which the state government has a huge say in, but council needs to be a louder voice in the conversation.
No response.