Koala Nature Refuges Program
The Queensland Government is looking to partner with landholders to revegetate and manage koala habitat on their properties. This is a key action of the Koala Response Strategy.
Landholders interested in managing all or part of their property for koala conservation can apply to establish a Koala Nature Refuge.
The Koala Nature Refuge must cover at least two hectares of the property and contain at least one hectare of land available for rehabilitation with koala habitat trees. Funding can be applied for to revegetate the cleared or degraded land nominated as well as other activities that will improve koala habitat such as fencing and weed control.
Successful applicants are required to enter into a perpetual and binding nature refuge agreement with the Department of Environment and Resource Management in order to receive the funding. These agreements are negotiated directly with the landholder and are designed to suit current land management requirements.
What properties are the Queensland Government interested in funding for koala habitat restoration?
The Queensland Government has developed maps of existing koala bushland habitat and areas suitable for rehabilitation in the SEQ Koala Protection Area. To be eligible, part or all of the applicant’s property must be mapped as ‘high’ or ‘medium value suitability for rehabilitation’. Applicants who wish to find out whether they are eligible can call DERM on the contact details below with the Lot on Plan description of their property (e.g. Lot 1 on RP12345) which can be found on the rates notice or title documents, or request a map online.
What type of activities will be funded?
The program will fund revegetation and management of koala habitat. Revegetation of koala habitat tree species must constitute the major portion of the application and there must be a minimum of one hectare of revegetation on areas mapped as ‘high’ or ‘medium value suitability for rehabilitation’. Applicants cannot apply for the cost of full ecological restoration. Example activities include:
- revegetation (minimum of one hectare) of cleared or degraded land with koala habitat trees
- weed control
- control or exclusion of threats to koalas
- fencing or other infrastructure needed to re-establish, protect or manage koala habitat.
For more information on revegetation, see the Koala Nature Refuges Program – Guideline for Revegetation of Koala Habitat (PDF, 1.8M)*. The Koala Response Strategy has also released the Koala Safety Fencing and Measures Guideline (PDF, 2.6M)* that provides a framework for koala-sensitive design principles.
What is a Koala Nature Refuge?
A Koala Nature Refuge is a voluntary agreement between a landholder and the Queensland Government. It is a commitment to improve and preserve land that is suitable for rehabilitating to increase koala habitat.
To receive funding, applicants need to sign a Koala Nature Refuge Agreement (also called a conservation agreement). Koala Nature Refuge Agreements are perpetual on freehold land, attached to the land title, and binding on successive owners of the land.
The Koala Nature Refuge can apply to the whole property or to certain areas, depending on the values and future use of the land. It must also be at least two hectares.
Owners of freehold land, leasehold land and local councils are able to enter into a Koala Nature Refuge Agreement.
For more information, or to receive an example Koala Nature Refuge Agreement, contact a Nature Refuge Officer on the numbers below.
Want to find out more?
To find out more about the Koala Nature Refuges Program:
- download the Koala Habitat Programs brochure (PDF, 509K)* and Koala Nature Refuges Program – Guideline for Revegetation of Koala Habitat (PDF, 1.8M)*
- phone DERM on (07) 3330 5359 or 13 QGOV (13 74 68) (local call) and ask to speak with a Nature Refuge Officer
- attend a community information session (refer below)
- email koala.refuges@derm.qld.gov.au
To find out more about nature refuges, visit the nature refuges web pages.
Applicants interested in selling their property to the Queensland Government to become an area protected for koala conservation should go to the Koala Habitat Acquisition Program web page.
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Last updated 25 November 2011