Where are koalas and their habitat?
Our koalas are nationally important
Ballina Shire is home to a nationally important population of koalas, as defined under the Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
It is believed that koalas in Ballina are a key source population for koalas now dispersed all over the Northern Rivers. The Ballina population of 285 - 380 koalas is necessary for the long-term survival and recovery across the Northern Rivers.
Koalas are listed as ‘Endangered’ under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Koalas and their habitat
In Ballina, koalas can be found from the southern-most areas around Boundary Creek, across the plateau hinterland around Alstonville, Wollongbar and Rous, to the northern-most parts of the shire around Newrybar. They can even be found in places you wouldn’t expect like East Ballina.
Koalas are fussy eaters and prefer only a small variety of mainly eucalypt trees. Koalas have complex social structures, living in established home ranges that interconnect. Young animals, especially males, must eventually leave the home range of their mothers, often travelling long distances seeking suitable habitat.
Koala survival is dependent on the retention of habitat and connectivity of remnant vegetation. Many of the remaining stands of eucalypts along used koala routes have become so severely fragmented that koalas are exposed to stresses that impact their survival.
And recognise a koala in trouble
Be a Citizen Scientist and record your Koala sightings. Ballina Shire Council works alongside government agencies and not-for-profit organisations which have developed useful tools to easily report sightings.
Friends of the Koala Northern Rivers
24-hour rescue hotline - 02 6622 1233
Burribi Education and Administration Centre - 02 6621 4664
Simple online form
Report a Koala Sighting
Download the I Spy Koala app
I Spy Koala is a citizen science app developed by the NSW Government that allows anyone in NSW to record sightings of koalas in the wild. Recording koala sightings is crucial to helping better understand and protect this threatened species.
To find out more about koalas across NSW, visit koala.nsw.gov.au
Recognise a koala in trouble
If you can get close enough to touch a koala there is usually something wrong.
Key signs a koala is in trouble include:
- Dazed appearance – unresponsive when approached or having difficultly climbing.
- Malnourishment/illness - saggy skin, shoulder blades or spine visible through fur or evidence of wounds.
- Chlamydia/infection – yellow to black bottom (healthy bottom fur is predominantly white and grey)
- Other signs - rusted or red eyes or brown dry-matted coat.
Remember! Help sick or injured koalas by calling the 24-hour Friends of the Koala Rescue Hotline on 6622 1233
If you come across a koala on the road, Friends of the Koala have developed a helpful Koala glovebox guide for you to follow:
We can all make a difference!
Every koala is precious. The survival of koalas now depends on us.
There are lots of ways you can help to recover our nationally significant koala population in Ballina. We can all make a difference, here are some tips:
- Report sick or injured koalas to Friends of the Koala on 02 6622 1233
- Drive with care at night, especially in koala zones
- Be a responsible dog owner - keep your dog away from koalas
- Plant koala trees on your property or join your local Landcare group
- Get involved – join a local group working to help koalas
Plant koala trees
If you’re looking to plant trees on your property to benefit koalas, please contact Council or a local expert for advice on planting the right trees in the right places. This advice may save you time and money but most importantly, deliver the best outcome for koalas.
Koalas feed almost exclusively on a few preferred tree species which are of primary and secondary importance. These species can vary depending on where you are located. The preferred food trees for koalas in Ballina are listed below:
Primary Browse Trees
Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)
Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys)
Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta)
Forest Red Gum x Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus patentinervis)
Secondary Browse Trees
Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis)
Grey Gum (Eucalyptus propinqua)
Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis)
Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna)
Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus signata)
Narrow-leaved Red Gum (Eucalyptus seeana)
Red Mahogany (Eucalyptus resinifera)
Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophloia)
Pink Bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia)
Forest Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa)
Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca)
Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus)
Swamp Box (Lophostemon suaveolens)
Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp)
The trees koalas prefer to eat and use for shelter depend on the particular area and its surrounding habitat. In Ballina Shire, koalas can shelter in non-food trees such as Camphor Laurel, rainforest trees and even macadamia plantations.
Ballina Shire landholders who wish to manage and improve native habitat for koalas and other biodiversity values on their properties can participate in a voluntary property registration scheme. Contact Ballina Shire Council on 1300 864 444 or email council@ballina.nsw.gov.au to find out more.
Friends of the Koala have developed an information sheet if you are interested in restoring koala habitat:
Be a responsible dog owner
Koalas are mostly active at night and around dawn and dusk. However, they often move during the day. Koalas on the ground are vulnerable, particularly when they come into contact with dogs.
Here are some simple tips to keep your dog (and our koalas) happy and healthy:
- Bring your dog inside at night, enclose your veranda with a gate, or create a secure dog run that is away from trees.
- If your dog is barking or growling at something in your backyard or up a tree, check it out, it could be a koala!
- Place koala escape poles near fences, and ropes in pools, to ensure koalas have a chance to escape if they enter your yard.
- Watch out for koalas in your area. Always keep your dog on a leash outside of the home or walk your dog at one of the seven off-leash areas across Ballina Shire. For a map of off-leash areas visit ballina.nsw.gov.au/exercising-your-dog
- Notify Council on 1300 864 444 if you see dogs roaming, unleashed in public areas, or if you see wild dogs notify Local Land Services on 1300 795 299.
Remember! For sick or injured koalas call the Friends of the Koala 24-hour rescue hotline 02 6622 1233.
Ballina Shire Council in collaboration with project partners through the NSW Government Saving Our Species Programs, have developed a Dogs and Koalas factsheet:
An overarching management framework
The Ballina Shire Koala Management Strategy aims to identify koala habitat and establish an overarching management framework. The Strategy summarises activities and actions that the Council intends to undertake to advance the vision, aims and objectives of Koala Management across Ballina Shire Council.
Importantly, Part 5 of the Strategy incorporates a Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPoM) for a part of the shire. This precinct provides habitat for a nationally important population of koalas, as defined under the Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPoM) is prepared in accordance with State Environmental Planning Policy No. 44 – Koala Habitat Protection, associated guidelines (published by the former Department of Urban Affairs and Planning 1995) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (1999). The Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPoM) aims to reflect a contemporary understanding of koala ecology and management. The plan also has regard for the approved Recovery Plan for the Koala in NSW (DECC, 2008).
The Ballina Shire Core Koala Habitat Comprehensive Plan of Management (CKPoM) was approved by the Department of Planning on 6 July 2017 and commenced operation under SEPP 44 on the same date. The Koala Management Strategy (including the CKPoM) identifies areas of core koala habitat in the shire and establishes associated requirements for development.
Resources
Our key projects now underway
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage provided funding to Council to prepare a Koala Habitat Study during 2012 and 2013.
The study indicates that the Bagotville, Meerschaum Vale, Coolgardie, Wardell, Uralba and Lynwood localities combined have a koala population of national significance, for the purposes of the Commonwealth Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
In 2016, Ballina Shire Council adopted the Ballina Shire Koala Management Strategy (KMS). The aim of the KMS is to support a self-sustaining long-term koala population in Ballina Shire.
Ballina Council continues to implement the Koala Management Strategy with valuable input from our community, other regional Councils and the NSW State Government.
Some key projects include:
- Working with project partners and landowners through the North East Hinterland Koala Project to secure areas of koala habitat through private land conservation agreements.
- Collaborating with koala experts, NSW Government and Jali Local Aboriginal Land
- Following the 2019-2020 bushfires, Council assists koala recovery through the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery Program.
- Establishing new Koala Road Safety Zones(PDF, 575KB) in priority locations on our roads.
- Planting koala habitat - including 5000 trees at the Old Bagotville Quarry site.
- Introducing a Koala Management Road Works Toolbox(PDF, 3MB) for Council staff.
- Supporting community education and involvement with koala conservation through the Koala Watch project.
- Hosting field days to promote the Koala and Farmer Friendly Windbreaks project.
- Installing educational koala displays at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and the Ballina Visitor Information Centre.
Koalas in our area face a number of threats
There are many threats to koalas in our local area. Some are influenced by humans and others can occur naturally in our environment. Many of these threats are complex and require input, planning and assistance from multiple stakeholders such as scientists and expert consultants. Some just require minor changes from our community.
Koalas face a number of threats including:
- habitat loss, fragmentation, modification and disturbance
- predation by roaming and domestic dogs
- vehicle strike
- intense burns or wildfires that scorch the tree canopy
- heat stress through prolonged drought and heatwaves
- human-induced climate change
- disease