PORT STEPHENS KOALAS. $3 million win for Port Stephens Koalas. June Inside this issue. Mambo wetlands what s

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1 Newsletter Issue June 2018 PORT STEPHENS KOALAS Lead Story Headline Inside this issue Mambo wetlands what s happening? Australian Wildlife Society Award 2 2 Big Bruiser 3 Taking advantage of clearing trees Invitation to join us on a cruise 7/9/18 Instagram and Twitter too Adopt a koala 4 Recycling litter donations 4 Seen a koala? 4 Koala rescues 5 Rescue info 6 Oakvale Farm sponsorship 6 $3 million win for Port Stephens Koalas A joint two year lobbying campaign by Port Stephens Koalas and Port Stephens Council has resulted in a $3 million grant from the NSW Government to build and operate a desperately needed koala care facility at One Mile Beach. Announced as part of the NSW Government s Koala Strategy by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian the new centre will 'deliver koala care, rehabilitation and long term conservation to the region. Representing the Premier and Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton, Duty MLC for Port Stephens Catherine Cusack stated that the Port Stephens Koala Hospital will have a special statewide role in terms of research and education - it is recognition of the significance of the local coastal koala population and the skills and advocacy of the Port Stephens Community. Deputy Premier John Barilaro stated Not only is this facility a koala hospital, it s also set to become a major tourism drawcard. The Tourists and visitors who come through the gates will essentially fund the ongoing operation of the hospital Mr Barilaro concluded. The centre will be constructed adjacent to the already functioning rehabilitation operation at the Treescape Camping facility situated on Gan Gan Road One Mile Beach on Crown Land leased by Port Stephens Council. Called Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary when opened, the facility will provide an education centre, koala clinic with ICU rooms, sanctuary area and premier accommodation. The photo shows media, four PSC Councillors and Mayor Ryan Palmer, PSC staff, MLC Catherine Cusack and some PSK volunteers. More on our website here.

2 Mambo Wetlands what s happening now? On Tuesday 22nd May, Port Stephens Council followed the recommendation of planning staff and refused a Development Application for a dwelling at 182 Port Stephens Drive, Salamander Bay - better known as Mambo Wetlands. This was the second attempt by the owner to gain permission to build on the 5.6ha parcel that was purchased from the NSW Government last year. The refused application sought to clear 200 sqm of preferred koala habitat, 1300 sqm of supplementary habitat, and modify another 3300 sqm of supplementary habitat. This degree of habitat modification and destruction was deemed unacceptable and the application drew a passionate response from the community with 2600 submissions received. The refusal is a fantastic result for the community and of course the flora and fauna within, but it may not be the end of the process as the applicant has the legal right to appeal the decision to the Land and Environment Court. The NSW State Government continues to investigate opportunities for the buyback of the land but that will require cooperation from the current owner/developer who may now be more amenable to selling the land back for a realistic price as development rights have all but been extinguished. Council may decide to sell off a block of land adjacent to the Mambo Wetlands at 109 Foreshore Drive, which is next to a waterside reserve (photo above). It is an important utility to prevent flooding in nearby homes, a visual amenity for the Port and an active koala corridor. A period of community consultation is now open until 19 June 2018, Please complete the survey below to help inform Council's decision making process haveyoursay.portstephens.nsw.gov.au. Australian Wildlife Society Community Conservation Award Port Stephens Koalas were honoured to accept the prestigious Australian Wildlife Society Community Conservation award. We are thrilled that our group has been recognised as contributing to wildlife conservation. Being volunteers and relying on donations and grants to care for our koalas in the Port Stephens area has never been easy, but we are determined to keep going and make a difference. Thanks also to our members who are our greatest asset, and especially all our volunteers who are passionate about conserving our koala population. More here: The Australian Wildlife Society was formed in 1909 and helped stop the horrendous fur trade in koala skins by convincing the US the President, Hoover, to ban all skins being imported. Robbed of its most important market, the trade soon ceased. Their 2018 animal of the year is the Platypus.

3 He really is a big Bruiser! Yes, Bruiser who survived a dog attack is living up to his name. If a koala could be hit by a car and then mauled by a big dog, then this is your man as his injuries are classical from both. Spending three months in a washing basket due to his complicated leg injury, Bruiser is now in an enclosure to continue the long road to recovery. His injuries to his bottom from the dog attack are far too gruesome to show, but with lots of patience and head scratching on how to best tackle his bottom problems is a challenge, especially when a koala always sits on his bum. (Julie Jennings) Taking advantage of clearing Koalas had been squatting and taking advantage of the trees on a vacant residential block at One Mile for over 20 years. Now being cleared of the much favoured food tree the Swamp Mahogany for a human residence, PSK volunteers got in very quickly to salvage some fresh food (leaf) and lots of the much sought after logs to fit out our facilities for koalas in care. Luckily for the koalas there s still plenty of trees around and their travelling corridor remains intact. (Julie Jennings] Port Stephens Koalas invites you to join us on National Threatened Species Day for a Fundraising Event on Moonshadow V Dinner Cruise Friday 7th September 2018 Boarding Nelson Bay Marina Dock C pm for a 6.45pm Departure. 9.15pm Return to Dock Tickets $75 pp including buffet dinner & entertainment by the very talented Karen Soper Drinks can be purchased at the bar. BYO is not an option. Fundraising raffle will be held on board Bookings: Contact Mel Turner, Moonshadow-TQC Cruises, Phone (02) or Or functions@moonshadow-tqc.com.au. All payments to be made at time of booking Please note this is a communal seating event so you may be sitting with other attendees on the night. We do expect this event to sell out, so we suggest buying your tickets now Instagram and Twitter We have recently expanded our social media footprint to Twitter & Instagram. With Instagram we're starting to see growth with local businesses and other Koala organisations using social media strategies and smart tagging. With more content to be added in the near future I am confident these pages will grow expanding the social media exposure to a broader audience. #Koalas :) Instagram: PortStephensKoalas Twitter: PortStephensKoalas

4 Adopt a koala they need your help Our "adopt a koala" program has been running since October For a $50 donation you can "adopt" a koala and receive an e-certificate of appreciation as well as updates on your chosen koala from the time of your adoption until its release. Adopting a koala is a great way to show your support while receiving an insight into the care of that koala. Every cent of your donation goes directly to the care of the koala. Koalas now up for adoption are: SES Maree, Tolley, Bruiser and Seaham Kerry. Click here to find out their stories: Your support is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to adoptions@portstephenskoalas.com.au. Live sightings of koalas are becoming more important as koala numbers decline in Port Stephens and across the Hunter Valley. Since 1994 koala records have been kept for every koala coming into care in Port Stephens and these have been uploaded to the National Parks Bionet (aka Wildlife Atlas). This data is used by Port Stephens Council, Ecologists and Consultants when considering development applications. We want to protect koala habitat, so we need your help to record live sightings too. You can the details to data@portstephenskoalas.com.au. Make sure you provide the date, an accurate address, GPS coordinates if possible, the sighter s name and phone number or address and any comments about the gender or health of the koala. We are working on providing a phone app to make this easier. Seen a koala today?

5 Koala Rescues February May 2018 NAME PROBLEM LOCATION DAYS IN CARE FATE Baby Jasmine Disease Tanilba Bay 10 Released Keira Disease One Mile 62 In Care Kiah Disease Ferodale 2 Euthanased Linda-Lill Disease Salamander Bay 72 Released Miss Crabbit Disease Anna Bay 39 Released Wallalong Jamie Disease Wallalong 14 Euthanased Bruiser Dog Salt Ash 93 In Care Freeman Motor vehicle Cooranbong 90 Released Morton Motor vehicle Salamander Bay 265 Released SES Maree Motor vehicle Corlette 227 In Care Unknown Motor vehicle Wirragulla 2 Died in care Banjo P Other Tanilba Bay 37 Euthanased Clarence Town Joe Other Clarence Town 11 Released Picasso Other One Mile 35 Released A-Jay Unsuitable Environment Salt Ash 3 Released Audrey Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 11 Released Bagey Unsuitable Environment Soldiers Point 0 Relocated Brunkerville Joe Unsuitable Environment Brunkerville 3 Released Harper Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 0 Relocated Miss Penelope Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 5 Released Nelsons Plains Kara Unsuitable Environment Nelsons Plains 3 Released Patrick Tully Unsuitable Environment Soldiers Point 123 In Care Ronaldo Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 67 Died in care Scirocco Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 80 Released Seaham Kerry Unsuitable Environment Seaham 30 In Care Tolley* Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 498 In Care Unknown Unsuitable Environment Nelson Bay 0 Relocated Axle Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 4 Released *PSK has applied for Tolley to remain in care permanently. He is not releasable - he is a bit wobbly when walking and sometimes sits on the ground but he is coping well in captivity because he has such a relaxed personality. Tolley is training our new volunteers in koala care techniques. Not listed are 4 koalas found dead. Three due to Motor Vehicle strikes: two in Karuah and one in Salamander. The fourth was found in Laguna having died due to disease.

6 PORT STEPHENS KOALAS PO Box 60 Anna Bay NSW 2316 Australia ABN NPWS Licence MWL VISION STATEMENT - Port Stephens Koalas aims to provide the world best practice standards of care to sick, injured and orphaned koalas to give them the best opportunity to be returned to the wild, while supporting research and collaboration to preserve their habitat to ensure that future generations may continue to enjoy seeing wildlife in their natural setting. Follow our koalas in care on social media! Instagram YouTube and Twitter: PortStephensKoalas KOALA IN DANGER RESCUE INFORMATION Sick Koalas come to the ground or stay low in trees. They may have brown dirty bottoms or crusty weepy eyes. Cars are the biggest killer of koalas. Be aware at dusk and dawn, a popular time for their movements. It's not a crime to hit a koala, but please report it by calling our rescue number. If it is safe to do so, move the koala to the side of the road, there may be a live joey inside the mother's pouch. Joeys have been saved by this action. Attacks from dogs are too common. Just one small bite can become infected and kill a koala. Keep your dog on a lead in parks and restrained away from gum trees at night. Rescue number: Store it in your phone. Call us if you are in any doubt of a koala's well being. We are available 24/7. Suitable environment may be questionable. On or near busy roads. No apparent gum trees in the vicinity. Vulnerable to other hazards such as dogs and swimming pools. Ideally, restraining a koala should be done without handling, avoiding injury to yourself. You may end up with scars if you try to handle koalas. A plastic laundry basket or a large towel or blanket can be used to place over the koala to keep it calm, and if possible put it in a quiet place away from pets (dogs especially) and noisy children or machinery. Call us immediately, any time of day or night. Quick action saves lives. Newsletter sponsorship We would like to thank Oakvale Wildlife Park for sponsoring the costs of printing this newsletter and for their continued support. Oakvale has been very helpful over the years by supplying us with healthy koala pellets and at times may supply us with pap for our joey koalas in care. Did you know that at Oakvale you can meet and have an encounter with a koala? Oakvale is committed to breeding koalas, and has a very successful koala breeding program, not only for guests to enjoy but as an insurance population for the species. There are many other native, exotic and domestic animals there too! It s a great place to take the family and overseas visitors. Oakvale Drive, Salt Ash, NSW. (02)