Campbelltown’s Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management has been approved by the State Government, facilitating further protections to koala habitat in the LGA.
The plan was submitted to the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment for review in 2016, detailing conservation actions and planning guidelines for properties within koala habitat
Council is now working to align the final version of the plan with the State Government’s new Koala State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), established in March.
“This plan of management provides clear planning guidance for residents living in areas of koala habitat while ensuring its preservation is a priority in the planning process,” said Mayor George Brticevic.
“The objectives of the plan are also being delivered through our Koalatown program to enhance community awareness and opportunities to support our koalas through their own actions,” Cr Brticevic said.
“I’ve been pleased to see many of the actions and frameworks in our plan, which was first submitted to the State Government in 2016, have been incorporated into the Koala SEPP,” he said.
Under the plan Council will take a number of actions including:
- Undertaking and supporting habitat rehabilitation works
- Monitoring koala populations and the effectiveness of the plan
- Implementing education programs
- Developing and enforcing planning controls relating to habitat management
- Supporting koala welfare groups
- Integrating the plan into other Council policies
Residents living on properties more than one hectare in size can now rely on the new comprehensive plan of management when undertaking home improvements instead of being required to go through the time consuming and costly preparation of their own plans of management.
Development applications will also be fast tracked for people who are completing home improvements that do not remove any vegetation or impact on koala habitat to help speed up the planning process.
The plan was prepared in consultation with internationally renowned professional wildlife ecologist and koala expert Dr Stephen Phillips of Biolink ecological consultancy.
