Rainforest Reserves Australia

Media Statement

6.07.23 For Immediate Release

Koalas and Greater Gliders in the firing line for Queensland’s renewables rollout

We've crunched the numbers so you don't have to - and it's heartbreaking.

Koalas are set to lose 10,178.118 hectares of habitat and Greater Gliders are set to lose 6,744.22 hectares if all renewable proposals are approved in Queensland.

Endangered Central and Northern Koalas are to be hit particularly hard by wind developments if all are approved. Lotus Creek (approved but not yet under construction) and Upper Burdekin (proposed) are devastating wind developments that will catastrophically impact healthy Koala populations onsite, destroy feeding trees and cause habitat fragmentation and degradation.

Greater Gliders are very sensitive to clearing and fragmentation. Loss of tree hollows, which Gliders depend upon to den in, will lead to a decline in numbers. Females only produce one offspring a year, and any negative impact to a breeding cycle will impact a small population. Mature trees with tree hollows, which take over 100 years to form, support Gliders - loss of these is devastating. Reveging a site with saplings will not help the Greater Glider or the Koala.

Defenceless, slow-moving Koalas and Gliders will also be highly visible traversing newly created roads, giving predators every opportunity to prey. Loss of connectivity between forest will make life much more perilous.

 Given what we know about extinction, Greater Glider and Koala habitat should be protected forever more from inappropriate development and clearing in Queensland.