Koalas in the Ipswich area will have a new home much sooner than anticipated thanks to the continued strong tree growth at one of Queensland’s largest koala habitat projects at Grandchester.
The landmark project was a partnership initiated between Powerlink Queensland, Ipswich City Council and SEQ Catchments in December 2013. Only two years on the 12,500 koala food and shelter trees are still growing at a rapid pace and show no signs of slowing down.
Powerlink Group Manager Environmental Strategies Nicole Lashmar said the project demonstrated strong environmental returns with survival and tree growth rates outpacing all expectations.
"Powerlink takes its environmental commitments seriously so it’s really encouraging to see such positive results after only two years," Ms Lashmar said.
"This project offers significant environmental outcomes from a conservation and biodiversity perspective by increasing koala habitat which will in turn increase koala long-term survival rates."
"The habitat also provides an important koala corridor, establishing connectivity to surrounding koala areas."
Saplings that were one metre high about a year ago are now quite substantial trees that will very soon be ready for koalas to call home," she said.
SEQ Catchments Chief Executive Officer Simon Warner explained the importance of creating habitat which helps koalas thrive, rather than simply planting trees to meet the minimum offsetting requirements.
"We always enjoy working with entities such as Powerlink and Ipswich City Council because they understand the bigger issues associated with the environment and drive to get real outcomes for our plants and animals," Mr Warner said.
The project, which has high ecological value and biodiversity significance, was undertaken to help Powerlink meet its obligations to offset impacts as a result of building essential transmission lines and substations in South East Queensland.
