The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has launched its first koala conservation strategy because it has no idea how many koalas exist on the Sunshine Coast.
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Between 2008 and 2011 almost 5800 koalas were killed by cars, dogs and chlamydia in southeast Queensland, mostly in Pine Rivers, Ipswich and Redlands.
In 2012 the Queensland Government's Threatened Species Unit warned the death rate of koalas from cars, dogs and disease in southeast Queensland was unsustainable.
Koala population figures in southeast Queensland were not updated while the LNP held governmen from 2012 to 2015, although the process of collecting koala data was put out to tender.
Those koala population figures were not released until 2012.
The population of koalas in southeast Queensland shrunk dramatically – by 65 per cent – since 1996, according to the Department of Environment and Heritage.
Koalas are now classed as endangered and under threat from urbanisation and disease.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council's draft koala conservation plan says: "Currently, little to no data exists regarding koala population trends within the Sunshine Coast local government area."
Meanwhile, the human population on the Sunshine Coast is predicted to rise from 285,000 in 2013 to 470,000 by 2036.
The Sunshine Coast's Environment Portfolio councillor Jenny McKay said the council would call for public feedback on the report, which has 30 recommendations to protect koalas.
Those recommendations are planned to be phased in over five years.
"Council is serious about protecting this iconic native animal," Cr McKay said.
"We will continue to proactively buy land, designated as koala habitat, through the Environment Levy," she said.
"And where it is appropriate we will continue to apply stringent planning conditions when assessing development applications that require removal of koala trees."
The koala is an important draw for tourists coming to the Sunshine Coast, and to Australia.
Research shows 75 per cent of international tourists hope to see a koala when they visit Australia.
Tourism figures estimate the koala contributes $1.1 billion to the Australian tourism industry.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has established a partnership with Australia Zoo's Wildlife Hospital.
Between 2004 and 2012, 187 koalas were bought to Australia Zoo at Beerwah.
Almost 39 per cent suffered chlamydia, 21 per cent had been hit by cars, 19 per cent were classed as "sick", while six per cent had been attacked by dogs.
Koalas scats have been recorded in Caloundra and Buderim, but also throughout Mapleton, Wootha, East Mount Mellum, Glenview, Buderim, Beerburrum and Glasshouse Mountains.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council will concentrate its koala research in two areas.
The first stretches from Maroochy Botanic Gardens, Upper Sippy, Upper Mooloolah, Mount Mellum, Peachester through to Curramore.
The second band stretches from Eumundi up into the Mapleton plateau.
The Sunshine Coast Koala Conservation Plan aims to determine where koalas live on the Sunshine Coast and understand the local threats to these populations.
The council may consider amendments to its planning scheme if it believes that ground-truthing of koala habitat supports an amendment, the report says.
