Pine Rivers (in South East Queensland) is lucky enough to have one of the largest healthy Koala populations in Australia.

Koalas are our icon species. They draw attention to the survival and retention of our natural bushland.

To ensure the long-term viability of our Koala population, Pine Rivers Shire Council (PRSC) has a series of sustainability programs.

Council has mapped all the Shire's vegetation and also commissioned a study by the Koala Research Unit of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Koala Study mapped and assessed the significance of Koala habitat in Pine Rivers. Council is now better informed to plan for a sustainable future. This information was used within Council's new Strategic Plan to manage future growth in the Shire (Pine Rivers is the second fastest growing Shire in Australia)

The information in the Koala Study helps Council use our resources for on-ground works strategically and for the greatest advantage. Information was used to formulate a Koala Lifeline Plan. This plan addresses the need for wildlife corridors for Koala travel between identified Koala populations.

The implementation of the Plan (trees in the ground!) has been contracted to the Pine Rivers Catchment Association. Work is also carried out at working bees with the public and Koala care groups, in conjunction with Council staff.

Koala education is multi-pronged - it occurs on-line, in schools, to the general public and at our two Environment Centres. Council's Koala brochure continues to be widely distributed and Gum Tree Identification Workshops are always booked out.

Work on Koalas and their associated habitats continues -a plant breeding scheme for dwarf Koala fodder trees has been instigated by the Council, to be carried out by the Qld Department Primary Industries. Other future plans include a Gum Tree Arboretum to showcase the 19 different Koala food species that occur in the Shire.