Council is proposing a change to the City’s local laws to include five new koala areas that will improve the overall safety of koalas by limiting their interaction with dogs.
Mayor Karen Williams said Council was asking for community feedback on the proposed changes that were aimed at reducing the number of koalas killed or injured by family pets in the City by expanding koala areas.
“Community consultation on these proposed local law amendments will open from 17 February 2016 and continue until 15 March 2016,” she said.
You may also like these stories
“The proposed amendment is for Ferntree Park at Capalaba, St James’s Park at Birkdale, part of Thornlands, part of Thorneside, and the North Stradbroke Island townships of Point Lookout, Dunwich and Amity Point to be listed as koala areas under Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2015.
“The owners of properties greater than 2000m² in these koala areas must ensure their dogs are denned or restrained at night or kept in a proper enclosure at all times if the amendment is adopted.
“Residents in existing koala areas throughout the City are already covered by this local law. This is an extension to new areas for greater protection of koalas.”
Cr Williams said Council would also work with experts to develop and implement a city-wide “behaviour change program” for an initial three year period.
“Each of us individually can play a part. We all need to be more aware of the impact that we can make to help our koala population, which we know is significantly affected by dog attacks and cars,” she said.
“This education campaign will complement the other measures we are already taking to protect the local koala population, including the recent mapping of wildlife corridors throughout the City and our significant ongoing investment in koala tree plantings, a program that received a boost earlier this year through the Australian Government’s One Million Trees funding.”
Environment and Regulation spokesman Cr Lance Hewlett (Division 4) said the proposed changes followed a Council review of koala area mapping in response to submissions received during the public consultation period for Council’s new local laws, adopted in April 2015.
“Councillors considered a range of factors to help support koalas, including the existing regulatory provisions for all dog owners in Redland City, regardless of whether they reside in a koala area,” he said.
Maps of the new proposed koala areas, along with relevant information and a submission form, will be available at Council’s online consultation site yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au and at Council’s customer service centres and mainland and North Stradbroke Island libraries from 17 February 2016. Formal submissions will close on 15 March 2016.
Have your say during the public consultation period by completing a formal submission online, or send your submission via email to[email protected]<mailto:rcc@redland.qld.gov.au> (writing “Submission for local law amendments” in the subject field) or by post to Redland City Council, Reply Paid 21, Cleveland, Qld, 4163.
