Vote for KoalasDownload our Vote for Koalas poster

Our recent report: State of Koalas in the Sydney Basin, First Annual Assessment shows a continuing downwards trend of the extent, occupancy, and generational persistence of koalas in the Sydney Basin Bioregion from 2021-2023. Already listed as endangered, and on track to become extinct by 2050, the need for stronger actions that protect koalas and their habitat in the Sydney Basin is urgent.

Local councils play a key role in protecting Koalas and their habitat. In the run-up to the 14 September election, we're asking candidates in areas with koalas sightings to commit to the SBKN 2024 Council Election Policy, protecting koala habitat and addressing key threats by:

1. Implementing a Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPOM) as a matter of urgency, which includes:
● Mapping of koala habitat across LGAs according to established methodologies
● Identification and protection of key koala habitat corridors informed by science, to prevent fragmentation and ensure separation from urban, mining and agricultural areas
● Where established urban areas are not separated from habitat, residential guidelines which allow the safe movement of koalas, such as escape routes from pools, dogs and over fences
● On ground surveys and annual reporting on the state of local koala populations

2. Identification of hotspots for vehicle strikes and action on council roads to address vehicle strikes to ensure safe road crossing for koalas.

3. Community education about living alongside koalas and supporting partnerships that encourage and incentivise local landholders to protect and restore koala habitat (ie Bushcare, Landcare, Land for Wildlife), to accommodate koala movement.

4. More stringent assessment of development applications affecting koala habitat by ensuring planning controls in council's CKPOM, LEP and Development Control Plan provide adequate protection for koalas and their habitat.

5. Opting out of the unscientific and damaging Rural Boundary Clearing Code which allows fragmentation of koala habitat without approval.

6. Increasing monitoring and compliance for unauthorised tree removal and roaming pets.

7. Advocacy to NSW Government on key issues affecting koalas including resolution of the Koala SEPP and draft guidelines, reform of legislation that allows ‘zombie’ development, and action on vehicle strike hotspots on state roads.

Local Councils with Koala Sightings in the Sydney Basin. 

Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden Campbelltown, Canterbury Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Georges River, Goulburn Mulwaree, Hawkesbury, Hills Hornsby, Kiama, Ku-ring-gai, Lake Macquarie, Lithgow, Liverpool, Maitland, Mid-Western Regional, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, NorthernBeaches, Penrith, Port Stephens, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Sutherland, Upper Hunter, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Wollongong. Find your local candidates here.

In addition, we have some other resources to help put the focus on koalas this election. 

  1. Print, display and share our Vote for Koalas Poster to spread awareness.
  2. Arm yourself with knowledge of local council roles and responsibilities to protect koalas:
  3. Review the video recording of the SBKN Member Webinar on 2024 Local Council Elections: seven actions local councils can take, plus guest speaker Kirsty from Biolink on what it's like to live in a koala friendly area and what protections have been put in place to allow people to thrive alongside koalas and other wildlife. 
  4. Downloadable slides from the webinar: seven actions council can take.
  5. Share this toolkit with your community
  6. Share candidate responses with your community (and us [email protected]) so everyone knows where candidates stand on koalas and can make an informed choice.
  7. Hold elected officials to account after the election!

If your council does not have koalas, please see Nature NSW's Nature in the Council Elections guide and policy.