IN appealing for community input to the Native Species Conservation Plan for the Koala, ACT Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti has slammed the federal government for approving a Queensland coal mine that, she said, would endanger the koala habitat.

“In the middle of an extinction crisis, the federal government last month gave the green light to the Isaac River coal mine in Queensland, a project which will see the destruction of endangered koala habitat,” she said on Tuesday morning.

“This native species conservation plan is a crucial step towards protecting and conserving our koalas in ACT.

“Despite this, the federal government can still do more to co-ordinate preservation efforts across the country.

“Let me be clear, there is no way you can meet a zero-extinction target while destroying our natural environment.”

The Native Species Conservation Plan for the Koala will seek to preserve habitat for the species which was formally listed as endangered in the ACT in early 2023.

It will identify and assess potential koala habitat across the ACT and will determine areas where management actions may be necessary to ensure the preservation of these beloved animals. It will also investigate the feasibility of a breeding program at Tidbinbilla, and if viable, establish a plan to release koalas into the wild.

The plan incorporates the expertise of First Nations community members and ACT government ecologists while being integrated into the National Recovery Plan for the Koala being led by the Australian Government.

Feedback will be until August 22 through the ACT Government YourSay Conversations website

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