New habitat mapping for koalas (Guula)

Port Macquarie Hastings Council has received State Government funding to carry out new habitat mapping for koalas (Guula), helping to protect one of our region’s most iconic species.

With one of the largest koala populations in NSW, our local area plays a vital role in their survival. Koalas are most active from September to February during breeding season, making it the perfect time to gather updated information about where they live and move.

Mapping for a koala friendly future

Our Council area was named one of 19 koala strongholds in the state and identified for investment under the NSW Koala Strategy. The Strategy aims to double the koala population in NSW by 2050, with a total of $193.3 million allocated over five years. You can find out more about the strategy and methodology on Council’s website.

What is koala habitat mapping?

Koala habitat mapping helps us identify areas to focus conservation efforts. It uses a range of local data – including tree species, vegetation types and past sightings – to assess where koalas are most likely to thrive. Once mapping is complete, survey sites are selected to fill in knowledge gaps, using 2.5km grids to assess areas of long-term koala presence.

Helping nose-first

A fieldwork team will be joined by specially trained koala detection dogs. Wearing a GPS tracker and guided by scent, the dogs can cover ground much faster than a human – sniffing out koala scat and helping pinpoint active habitats.

This project is one part of Council’s ongoing commitment to protect and manage koala habitat across our region – for today and for generations to come.

These are just some of the ways that we are protecting Koalas in our region. You can help too by taking part in our Koala Aware Education campaigns, Drive with care and Dogs Lovers care.

Drive with care, be koala aware

Take our local koala aware road safety pledge to make your promise to be alert and aware when driving on our roads to ensure we keep koalas and wildlife safe.

Take the pledge to ‘drive with care, be koala aware‘ and receive your free pledge pack.

Dog Lovers care Quiz

Answer 5 questions to learn some interesting facts and understand how dog owners can help protect koalas in our region with our Dog Lovers Care quiz

Complete the quiz to receive a free hi vis dog leash.

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