More bluecray KOALA articles can be found on this link HERE. (bluecray.org- Environmental Advocacy for the Mt Warning Caldera Region of NE NSW and SE QLD.)

Bluecray.org BIODIVERSITY LINKS : -  some useful  links for Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna, Koalas, Ecology and Catchment Management – Tweed Shire, NSW, Australia

PLANNING GUIDELINES FOR KOALA CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY – C McAlpine – 2007:- search results bluecray environmental search engine

SEPP 44 koala plan of management -information and links at bluecray environmental search engine

Nature Conservation Council (NSW) and Koalas – June 2010 – Assessment of Koala’s eligibility for listing as a threatened species under EPBC Act

LEP’s and SEPP’s at EDO (Environmental Defenders Office) – Factsheets to help you understand State Environmental Planning Policies – NSW, Australia

“Developers to Face Koala Conservation Test” – article at Daily Telegraph by Vikki Campion (August 20th, 2010).  “Biodiversity program leader Mark Kingston, on the new Tweed Coast Koala Advisory Group, said the study results so far painted a bleak picture.” In this article, there is reference to the idea that the North Coast Koalas could be fenced, imprisoned and locked up  in some type of “sanctuary”. The idea is highly incompetent, when it comes to regional habitat management and authentic Environmental Stewardship.

Whilst the colonial sentiment of imprisonment ( such as to restrict anti social behaviour involved in taking food to survive) combined with the “victorian” attitude of capture and keep may have worked in a bygone era, this is 2010. Koalas have disappeared from the Tweed Coast because no one listened to the Koala Advocates back in the 70′s, 80′s and ’90′s of last century. This is called lack of precaution, and is sometimes used as a reason in Courts of  Law to point out that those in power have acted without due caution and care to future, possible or likely foreseeable events.

Concreting the Coastal 2003 : Clearing and Development Pressures on the NSW Coast 2003 Total Environment Centre PDF – this compiled resource by the TOTAL ENVIRONMENT CENTRE show problematic development, land clearing activity, approvals and proposals in coastal nsw 2002 -2003. It looks at the larger, more controversial, uncompleted developments at that time – (not the smaller, under the radar ones, nor the already completed ones). This is an excellent recent historic resource.

The current mood of acceptance that Koala populations are in dire trouble shows to me, that those in Council, now admitting the issues, have previously been well informed of the Koalas’ plight, and previously did not take the due care and necessary actions to preserve Koala populations over the past decades. Only very recently they (NSW Government, Tweed Shire Council) approved developments amidst outcries that this  imminent localised Koala extinction was about to happen in the foreseeable future.

Old fashioned, the trend for Koala sanctuaries does little to help the habitats for wild Koala populations. It does not help the wild Koala populations interact and live stress free, secure lives.

It is one thing to save the last few marsupials of a particular species, creating a breeding program and investing in habitat restoration  where the marsupial came from and lived. This can help the marsupial regain a foothold back into a wild state.

The concept , as explained in the above news article is based on ignorance and something bordering a sociopathic  delusional sense of self righteousness. Imprisonment of wild animals is cruel, and not at all an answer. Habitats of Koalas can be fostered and sponsored by the Tweed Shire Council and any developer (that seeks to profit from developing and creating infrastructure along the Tweed Coast.) So far,  there has been this mass development, mass habitat FRAGMENTATION and mass habitat destruction.

I would think that it is against Native Wildlife Laws to fence in wild populations when they are endangered or at risk. Better to create an environment and educational agenda that allows the marsupials to thrive and move freely. Better to enhance habitat and desist from mass HABITAT DESTRUCTION. Better to fence the dogs, the people, the cars, the developers and the government contractors creating the infrastructures that have and intend, in the future,  to create more problems for the Koalas survival???? Better to actively engage in HABITAT RESTORATION and habitat education, on a scale never before seen on the NE NSW Coast.
The idea of a koala sanctuary will have no real impact on the surrounding Koalas who live nearby, yet are fenced out. Koalas who have travelled to the area, if they are fenced in, will be submitted to micro-chipping devices, which seems a little extreme, given that Koalas can probably be recognised individually by Koala spotters who are familiar with the animals.

I guess that to many Koala “scientists”, individual micro-chipping can give some measure of knowing who, where, what and when information, concerning individual koala movements. However, Australians, as a whole, have become obsessed with information, and information is useless, if it isn’t approached with wisdom.

The WISDOM, if I may be so bold to suggest, is that infrastructures and developments have created much of the KOALA ISSUES today, and more of the “same as it ever was” approach to growth and development will create the same old issues – at the expense to the KOALA.

Passive, gentle approach to HABITATS – leaving vegetation as is, or if it requires habitat enhancement, gentle weeding and planting/encouragement of local, endemic vegetation gives good results. If a developer should wish to build into and about Koala Habitat, then that developer should have covenents such as “NO DOGS”, strict laws about vegetation plantings, and a voluntary code of planting programs that are several years ahead of the development, so that vegetation to replace the removal of plant communities for building and infrastructure, is already in place, at a reasonably advanced state. People should be educated as to what constitutes KOALA friendly lifestyles, starting at pre-school level.

Bulldozers and Koalas, habitat clearing and Koalas, highly networked roadways and Koalas – these things do not work well together. Bikeways, small localised villages, small regional developments with gentle approaches to infrastructure building – these things, and more can help KOALA HABITAT. A Koala Corridor is not a static situation. Like Koalas, their habitat is a living breathing, ever changing “entity”. It is a healthy continuity of living breathing forests, woodlands, wetlands, hills, valleys, catchments and much much more. The concept of a Koala corridor has served its purpose in the past century to help some localised Koala populations and heighten awareness about Koalas and their plight. It is, however, very narrow in concept, as our very infrastructure, urbanisation and agrarian mindsets create “habitats” that are in direct conflict with “Koala Habitat and Corridors”.

It is now time for people to be more honest in their approach to the KOALA.  It is now time to consider the Koala in its REGIONAL contex and how the localised infrastructure/urban and rural development AND regional infrastructure/urban and rural development  in the Tweed Shire implicates on the SURVIVAL of this THREATENED SPECIES.

But, essentially, as is the problem that we face Australia, and WORLD WIDE – it is our frantic racing lifestyle based on “more and faster” that is at the base of the KOALA EXTINCTION. The dogs, the cars, the illnesses – all symptoms. What was it, about the previous land custodians’ lifestyles (indigenous Australians), that gave us pristine heritage 200 years ago?

Authentic Land and Water Custodianship. Honouring Country. Respecting nature. The question I pose here, is the same Question that was posed me over 15 years ago. “Why should the matter of Koala road kill, dog kill, disease and death be an issue.??” Look beyond, go beyond the symptoms to the real issues. It is there that you, we – us all, will see what is at the heart of the matter. The beautiful, wild Koala is telling us something about ourselves. Are we brave enough to really “hear” and “LEARN” that truth?

Growth, greed, profit taking, cargo and corporate cults – these cults have been destroying the habitats of the NE NSW and SE QLD Koalas for decades now. There IS a WAY, but imprisonment is not  it!  Shame on you, Tweed Shire Council and the NSW Government. Shame on you.

Bluecray has recently updated its search engines and has created an ENVIRONMENTAL SEARCH ENGINE for use. It is geared particularly for the Mt Warning Caldera Region, NE NSW and SE Qld, Australia, but also includes Australian and Global internet resources.

It  may be a starting point to help you findwhat you are looking for.

Tweed Shire Koala Populations at candobetter.org – and some more updates about the threat from corporate myopia and Koala Populations HERE .

The “Koala” is not just an ICON.

Koala Icon QLD : bluecray Environmental Search results .

Koala Icon NSW : bluecray Environmental Search results .

“Truth and Consequences” at Daniel Goleman’s website : Ecological Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, Social Intelligence

In the following Koala Poem about Corporate Vision, Phantom Koala muses that the current vision is extremely MYOPIC. Land is cleared,  bargains are made and more Koala Habitat is lost. PK is waiting for Corporate Leadership to take the helm. Unfortunately, all he sees is self seeking gamesmanship, ego and deceit in many directions. Luckily, he has some good friends all around the world, and with his family and friends, he climbs up high to “see”…..
…………….corporate myopia

Phantom Koala does disappearance good
His developer enemies wish that he would
stop as a threat(ened), so their work can go on
now their money is dwindling ,  their wish list so long

They’ve complied with the standard of EIS, so -
why does the nod from the government slow?
And why does their sleep seem to toss turn and wake
they’ve paid their donations what more does it take?

Well PK’s protected. Their money can’t buy
his spirit or habit(at) since their money’s a lie.
And lies based on ego and greed and defense
are valued below more than just a few cents.

While PK’s dear forest friends rally to hear
how corporate greed is now seen by this seer
(This hero who travels through corporate land
and watches and listens to their hollow stand)

Ah -  there’s none oh so blind as as those that can see
yet miss this Koala who’s high in his tree.
And there’s none oh so blind as developers who
circle like madmen yet deny what they knew.

They vow that they’ll see all their money can buy
but PK and his friends see their actions so sly
PK has their myopic sights right in his frame
and sees on their shoulders all of the blame

For his dear friends’ home losses their habitats ‘dozed
And who’s sleeping well now this myth is near closed?
It’s PK and family and friends sitting high
above tree tops of love so they’ll always see “why”.

Phantom Koala (PK) wonders why, for all the badge selling, tracking and monitoring, big furry- suited people with tins and volumes of papers and documents, no corporation has stopped the great destruction of Koala Habitat in SE QLD and NE NSW. PK knows that he has Corporate Friends. PK also knows that the “Koala” is not just an ICON.

Native vegetation clearance, habitat loss and biodiversity decline – An overview of recent native vegetation clearance in Australia and its implications for biodiversity – references and CONTENTS . what was known back in 1995 . (Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 6 Andreas Glanznig, Biodiversity Unit Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, June 1995) at Australian Dept. of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

PK Crossing Road on Tweed Coast, NE NSW, Australia

Development on the Tweed Coast of NE NSW, in the Mt Warning Caldera Region of Australia is an example of Corporate Myopia

Australian Science at Work- some archived articles here that may be of interest

The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts . and their Threatened Species Publications .

Urban Taskforce : and their Mission Statement…..

Australia’s Threatened Species at the Australian Academy of Science .

“Rescuing Remnants” at the National Library of Australia online .

Threatened remnant vegetation – search results at bluecray Environmental Search

Alternatively, you can try out bluecray.org’s new Environmental Search Engine for “koalas kings forest tweed coast“

The Creation, by Bob Ell’s (Leda) Project 28 Pty Ltd,  of a “residential community (including subdivision), educational facilities, a town centre, a service station, a golf course and club house, a neighbourhood centre and a regional community facility” in and about Kings Forest is being assessed by the Director-General. Information ( Assessment type Part 3A) Application and Declaration,  Preliminary Assessment, Director-General’s Requirements, Environmental Assessment, Response to Submissions)  at the NSW Department of Planning can be found HERE.

Planning Workshop Australia – Kings Forest and some other State Significant Sites’ work for developers

Meanwhile, here is a photo of Benoit, my little Crow friend… he has discovered money, and you can find out what he thinks about it by clicking HERE!

- A Koala Saga of the Mt Warning Caldera Region, Australia, the World…….this poem is dedicated to ALL the Koalas out there, doing the “hard yards”  in our “ridiculously good looking” urban, rural and recreational  expansions-

When Phantom Koala was still a youth,

his Mother left and said in truth

“I’ll make it to the Coastal tree, the one I love to eat. Yummie!”

“I’ll stay a month, then come right back” (little knowing “they’d” change her track).

So off she went to her favourite tree.Goodbyes to PK and his Sisters three, she’d cross through Mooball – the forests there had fragrant leaves in the cool crisp air. Then smelling the breeze of the ocean true she’d make her way with her corridor view to her favourite tree, and it’s leaves so rare and then she’d spend a few weeks there.

Well,

Getting there was kind of rough

but PK’s Mama was very tough.

Her way was blocked by a tall steel screen

making her travel much longer – how mean!

So when she arrived – how her body did ache

from that extra long journey those roadworks did make.

However, once climbing her favourite tree,PK’s Mama felt happy and free. She’d catch up on news of her cousins and friends as they sampled the leaves of the fine coastal blends.

Then later, as winds shifted northern and strong,her thoughts shifted also – to where she belonged. With her children, the ranges – of Mooball and beyond.  Her tall homeland trees of which she was fond.

She could venture home now, and “Next Year”, she thought “I’ll show PK this way, although it’s not short.He can sample the trees of the coastal wetland and meet all his cousins – it will be really grand!”

But sadly she found she was hopelessly caught. The route to her homeland was suddenly fraught

with DANGER – more FENCES – MACHINERY too……

PK’s Mama thought “Oh now what to do?”

She wandered for ages – for weeks up and down.

Running from people and dogs from a town.

She lost herself twice as she struggled to find

a way back to her hills and away from this bind.

So long did she struggle to find her way home,twice fleeing from males – big Koalas – so strong. Blocked off from her country to which she belonged.

Long nights did she call for her dear PK boy……

Then one winter’s night she heard an

“AHOY”

It was PK – her son but he sounded afar

Across the deep void of the roadway and tar.

He’d travelled some distance, to find her but then

the big roadway stopped him at a small shady glen,

So climbing heroically tall tree tops there, he heard his Mama through the clear coastal air as she called out his name. They both ran to their fence.

Lives divided by wire, trucks and our “commonsense”.

So now that this epic resolves, I’ll show you that PK and his Mother are still in the View, but severity lingers with human road-forms and houses, developments – all of our “norms”,  that split our dear HERO from his MOTHER in space.  And tho’ time heals his woes, no one argues his case.

Pk’s winter retreats to talk with his Mom revive all his feeling of how she’s not “home”.

He’d share all his stories to those with an ear, those people who’d see that it’s wrong just to “clear”.

Building fences and roadways to imprison his friends  (to Pk it seems that this pace knows no ends)

Yet in quiet midnight hours of his winter retreat…

His talks with his Mother – of memories sweet….

YET – NEVER to touch her, nor sit with her close.

BIG ROADS AND BIG FENCES – they do more than you suppose!

if you want to find out How Phantom Koala earned his “Hero” status, by travelling to find his mother who had become trapped in Kings forest on the Tweed Coast of NE NSW, Australia, read the second  Koala poem about him at bluecray.org –    “There is a Way“

Free F'all

The Australian National Reserve System holds some of the last great refuges in the world for Australian Flora and Fauna. The Mt Warning Caldera Region contains some of these Australian National Reserves.

Australia’s National Reserve System Strategy 2009-2030 has been announced as part of the Australian Government’s determination to safeguard the biodiversity of our precious native plants and animals.

The link to download the Australian National Reserve System Strategy 2009-2030 is HERE.

And how does the Australian National Reserve System help our friend, Phantom Koala?

Perhaps that is something you should look into for yourself!

• Draft National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy 2009-2014 – submissions close COB 5th August 2009
• “A preliminary investigation of the distribution of koalas and their potential habitat in the Tweed Shire, and implications for management”  by Judy Faulks . Find article at – Australian Zoologist, June 1991 Vol. 27(1 & 2) ……I can no longer find this article/ reference to it on the internet, but you may have more luck by looking for it. I originally found it  at – Australian Zoologist, June 1991 Vol. 27(1 & 2). You may find it here at the Royal Zoological Society of NSW in the Journals. Alternatively, try this google search : australian zoologist June 1991 Vol. 27(1 & 2)
• Koala losses show failure of SE Qld Planning :  GECKO Media release 26th March  2009
• “Koala Coast numbers plummet in just two years” : story in The Courier Mail 23rd May 2009
• LACA : Logan and Albert Conservation Society article on declines in Koala numbers .
• and back in September 2007?  ” SEQ Koala numbers plummet : study” : Brisbane Times 10th September 2007
• “koalas national reserve system” search results – Bluecray Advocacy LInks Search Engine
• “koalas national reserve system” search results – Bluecray Regional Environmental News Mt Warning Caldera NE NSW/SE QLD
• Those Best Placed : News and FORUM – Northern Rivers NSW

Gold Coast City and Hinze Dam (top, middle) Springbrook, Mt Warning - Numinbah Valley or "Devil's Country" is in the centre - and Lamington Plateau (bottom), SE QLD, Australia.

Safe places to hide are becoming scarce. Oh! What to do? Then, one morning, after being chased by dogs and almost hit by a car, Phantom Koala finds a safe tree, and settles to an exhausted sleep. He begins to dream……………

PK dreams of talking with the Government Official who holds Stewardship of Kings Forest

The Development that is planned for the Kings Forest area is

• environmentally unsustainable 
• damaging to the wildlife that are already stressed due to development surrounding fragments of bushland
• far too large to risk building, due to the fragile nature of the ecosystems and fragmented habitats  of the Tweed Coast

A few links:-

• Wildlife Preservation Society Australia
• Caldera Environment Centre – Mt Warning Caldera Region
• Friends of the Koala – Northern Rivers NSW Australia
• EDO Northern Rivers
• Nature Conservation Council of NSW  
• “A preliminary investigation of the distribution of koalas and their potential habitat in the Tweed Shire, and implications for management”  by Judy Faulks . Find article at – Australian Zoologist, June 1991 Vol. 27(1 & 2) 
• Koala keyword search : bluecray.org
• bluecray Journey for Wisdom in the Land : “Koala Planning Dreaming” – the bigger picture