E-Petition

The Petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House that the proposed expansion of Ormiston College in the Redlands involves clearing 652 mature trees within a mapped Priority Koala Assessable Development Area under the Planning Regulation 2017.

Areas mapped as High Value Bushland and High Value Other Habitat under the Redland City Plan that form important habitat networks for endangered koalas in the Redlands. Community and citizen science records, including sightings recorded through Redland City Council’s Koala Watch program, indicate regular koala activity in and around the site.

The Queensland Government publicly recognises that habitat loss is the greatest threat to koalas, particularly in South East Queensland. Clearing habitat fragments the landscape, reducing connectivity and increasing risks to koalas such as vehicle strikes.

Despite the potential impacts on koala habitat, the proposal has not been referred to the Commonwealth for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The development application proposes revegetation and rehabilitation planting, however newly planted vegetation cannot replace the ecological function of mature koala habitat for many decades.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to do all within its power to ensure the proposed development does not proceed until impacts on koalas have been properly assessed, including consideration of potential impacts on Matters of National Environmental Significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.