On Friday 3rd May 2024, the Southwest Sydney Koala network met on World Koala Day.
This is what Greater Sydney Landcare’s Koala Officer Xuela Sledge had to say about the event.
“A great meeting again, for a Southwest Sydney Koala network. This time on Wild Koala Day – Friday May 3rd!”
“Special guests Lilly [Schwartz] and Pat travelled down from the Hills Hornsby Rural Koala Group to update us on the work they are doing to rediscover the Koala population of South Maroota, following severe wildfires in the early 2000s.”
“Cita Murphy from the Country Womens Association and Julie Sheppard from Macarthur National Parks Association explained their Rewilding Sydney’s Koalas project.”
“Katie [Selhorst] from Landcare Australia took us through the Wildseek project and a recent drone survey.”
“Other stakeholders in the network, also at the meeting:
- Campbelltown City Council
- Knitting Nanas
- Greater Sydney Landcare
- Australian Wildlife Sanctuary and Sydney Wildlife
- WIRES
- University of Sydney (Wildlife Clinic)
- Community
- Landholders”
“Thanks to all involved!”
Read more about this community Koala stakeholder meeting in an article by Diana Crisp on Landcarer.
The Hills – Hornsby Rural Koala Project said on their Facebook about the event, “It was great to attend the Southwest Sydney Koala Project meeting last Friday. An opportunity to gain some advice and support from our neighbouring koala groups and carers and to be able to hear more about their struggles and work in the Campbelltown region. We’ve all got to continue supporting and helping one another where possible. We will actually be going to Smiths Creek Reserve later this month to practice our koala scat spotting skills as well.”
About the Southwest Sydney Koala Project
Greater Sydney Landcare received funding from the NSW Government to help deliver the NSW Koala Strategy across the Campbelltown and Appin/Wilton areas.
The Southwest Sydney Koala Project includes conservation efforts such as encouraging connectivity with corridor plantings that include preferred koala food trees on private and public property. Numerous other conservation actions will be carried out in this partnership program between July 2022 and June 2026, including road kill mitigation, wildlife carer support, community engagement and awareness raising and education.
