Despite the Sutherland Shire koala population’s stability over the last two years, a 2021-2023 report from the Sydney Basin Koala Network indicates potential future risks without immediate state intervention.
The report advocates for Sutherland Shire’s inclusion in the Koala Habitat Protection State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP), aligning it with other Sydney councils to strengthen developmental regulations.
Conducted by Biolink ecologists, the research highlighted a general decline in the koala numbers across the Sydney Basin, although Sutherland’s numbers remained unchanged during the study period.
The area has experienced 11 koala road fatalities since July 2022, underscoring the dangers posed by current traffic volumes and development. Sutherland Shire, identified as an Area of Regional Koala Significance (ARKS), hosts a growing koala colony, yet lacks the SEPP designation which would offer greater protections.
The report calls for urgent action to map and safeguard koala movement corridors and for the local council to implement a comprehensive management plan, pending state inclusion of the area in the SEPP.
