Koala Habitat Restoration Program
Koala Habitat Restoration Program
13 landholders have come together in the Kurrajong area to restore bushland remnants on their properties to create a better corridor for the local population of koalas
Stronger Together -
LLCI035-007
The issue
A large group of landholders in the Kurrajong area were alerted to state plans for a freeway to run straight through a number of private properties. A portion of these landholders wondered how can we have more protection on our land, and keep the wonderful vistas that currently exist - instead of having a major freeway come through. They came up with the idea of creating a 'green corridor' instead. Planting trees, particularly for the local Koala populations.
The solution
One of the landholders, acting as spokesperson approached Greater Sydney Local Land Services for some funding to implement these wishes. GSLLS and Hawkesbury Landcare Network then organised a bus tour to other properties which had similar vegetation and, had actively worked on restoring their land for a number of years. Following this bus tour, GSLLS organised some funding for those interested properties to be restored for better Koala Habitat. Hawkesbury Landcare Network will now carry on the support and coordination of this Program as the on-ground liaison for the area.
The impact
Although the Program has only just begun, this arrangement represents an efficient and effective model for the Local Land Services and Local Landcare Coordinator of Hawkesbury Landcare partnership, in that LLS took on all the admin and funding requirements, before handing over the Program to Landcare for its on-ground implementation component. Already the landholders are excited and motivated to restore their land back to Koala habitat (many of them their entire property). This is a huge win for the remaining habitat in the area, and offers a great example for others to opt in aswell.
Learnings
Key learnings are anticipated from organising monthly workdays across the 13 properties, and coordinating bush regeneration contractors across these properties to include individual landholder training aswell. In summary, ensuring that every landholder has received a fair amount of others working on their land and, one on one time with the professional contractors.
Key facts
- Local Land Service and Landcare Network model idea - admin and funding arrangements developed by LLS and, on-ground implementation support by Landcare Coordinator.