Why is Koala Connections needed?Coastal development in the Tweed and Byron shires has substantially reduced and fragmented available habitat for native fauna, particularly koalas. This has resulted in isolated sub-populations, which are more vulnerable to threats such as feral and domestic animals and bushfires.

Without action to address these issues, there is a real chance that koalas might become extinct on the Tweed and Byron Coasts.

Koala Connections aims to provide a secure future for koalas on the NSW far north coast by increasing the area, quality and connectivity of koala habitat in the Tweed and Byron shires.The $3.5 million program will improve this habitat - to protect koalas and many other species of endangered fauna and flora - through tree planting, weed control, vertebrate pest management community engagement and fire management.

Tweed Shire Council and Byron Shire

Council are working together on the project, which is being funded principally by a $2 million grant from the Australian Government Biodiversity Fund.

The grant is complemented by cash and in-kind contributions of all project partners - including both councils, landholders and community groups.

Over four years, the project aims to:• plant 30,000 koala food trees,

with 2000 mixed shrubs and understorey plants, to create 75 hectares of effective fauna and flora linkages

• plant 25 hectares of riparian and rainforest plantings, comprising 25,000 trees and shrubs and 6000 understorey plants to enhance Endangered Ecological Communities

• enhance linkages between the coast and inland areas over approximately 20,000 hectares, which will improve ecosystem resilience and adaptation to climate change

• undertake weed control on 225 hectares of koala habitat and Endangered Ecological Communities, to enable natural regeneration

Connecting the dots ... program objectives

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:• Tanya Fountain (Tweed Shire Council) Biodiversity Project Officer (02) 6670 2587 or tfountain@tweed.nsw.gov.au• Scott Hetherington (Tweed Shire Council) Koala Connections Project Manager (02) 6670 2561 or shetherington@tweed.nsw.gov.au• Jo Green (Byron Shire Council) Koala Connections Project Officer (02) 6626 7068 or joanne.green@byron.nsw.gov.au

Photo by Kathryn Kermode

This project is supported by Tweed and Byron Shire Councils, through funding from the Australian Governmentand the NSW Government Environmental Trust.

Koala Connections - Tweed and Byron Shires

What will be done?Work will include:• treeplantingandrestorationon private and public land in the most important locations * focusing on preferred koala feed trees but also enhancing biodiversity by including a variety of canopy, mid and understorey species * removing weeds and encouraging natural regeneration on targeted sites.• invasivevertebratepestmanagement. * reducing the short and long-term impacts of exotic fauna and domestic pets on native flora and fauna• firemanagement * decreasing fire frequency in koala habitat and fire sensitive endangered ecological communities.• communityeducation * informing groups and individuals about the habitat needs of native flora and fauna and encouraging protection and restoration of ecological communitiesAll activities are guided by koala habitat studies undertaken for the Tweed and Byron coasts and will contribute to the Tweed and Byron coast koala plans of management. In 2010, Tweed Shire Council was

awarded a NSW Environment Trust fund to implement a three-year project, Koala Connections. Through this project, Council has so far facilitated seven workshops, undertaken restoration on private land and planted more than 4000 koala food trees in the Tweed coast region.

Past connections

The project will directly engage at least 75 landholders to manage their properties sustainably and enhance biodiversity.

In addition, two youths from local indigenous communities will be trained in Certificate II Natural Area Restoration and Management through the program.

The project will be overseen by a

steering committee which consists of representatives of both councils, Friends of the Koala, Tweed and Byron Landcare groups, National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Office of Environment and Heritage, Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Northern Rivers Fire and Biodiversity Consortium and Aboriginal Land Councils.

Getting the community involved in the project

The Australian Government funded Koala Connections project will build on these outcomes and significantly improve habitat and connectivity for koalas throughout the Tweed and Byron coast areas.

Photo by Kathryn Kermode