Koalas in Ballina

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.