Cooma-Monaro CKPoM Newsletter

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Photo: James Fitzgerald

Welcome
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE

Welcome
Why a
CKPoM?
Council

Hello and welcome to our first Cooma-Monaro CKPoM Newsletter. We hope to

provide these newsletters on a regular basis throughout the preparation of the Cooma-Monaro Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPoM) to keep local residents and interested parties informed of the progress of the project.
Community Consultation is an integral component to the project so we hope you will
follow along, have your say and/or contribute any information on Koalas in your area,
to help make the CKPoM a document which represents the interests of the Shire residents and preserves and protects the Koala population into the future.

Webpage
School Logo
Competition
Community
Survey
Community
Workshop

Why a CKPoM ?
The preparation of the
Comprehensive Koala
Plan of Management
(CKPoM) for the CoomaMonaro Shire is in accordance with the State
Environment Planning Policy No. 44 Koala Habitat
Protection. Koalas within
NSW are threatened species and are listed as Vulnerable under the Threatened Species Act 1995.
The CKPoM will address
the existing, future and
continuing koala habitat
issues to ensure the ongoing survival of the species
in the study area. The

Plan of Management will

guide management of development to ensure Koala populations and development within the shire
can occur harmoniously.
The study process and
preparation of the
CKPoM will take approximately 6 months. Stage 1
and 2 are underway with
community consultation
and analysis of available
data and research on koala distribution. The community is encouraged to
complete the online survey which will allow you
to have your say and con-

tribute any information on

Koalas on your property.
The survey is available on
the Council Website
(more information on
website and survey in this
newsletter) or contact
the project team for a
copy.

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Council Webpage
Cooma-Monaro Shire
Council Website has a
dedicated CKPoM page
which describes the project outcome and the
study process. It has links
to download this newsletter as well as a Facebook Page for regular
project updates.

The website also has links

to info about our School
Logo Design Competition
(see below for more information). There is a
Frequently Asked Questions section and all the
details to get in touch
with members of the project team.

Most importantly, you

can complete the online
survey to provide any information on Koalas on
your property presently
or historically (pre 1996).
This information will be
incorporated into the
Plan of Management.

Koala Facts
Did you know the Koala is a marsupial with a pouch (pretty nifty
to have a pocket to put your baby in!!) and their closest relative
is the wombat?

School Logo Design Competition

Are you good at drawing/
design? Would you like
your picture of a Koala to
be used as the logo for the
CKPoM and related material? Council is running a
School Logo Design and
Drawing Competition for
students to create a picture

and/or logo of a Koala. Logos would need to be suitable for printing. Simple outlined drawings with minimal
colours are best (similar to
the example picture provided here). Flyers were sent
out last year to all the
schools within the study

area. If your
school did not
receive one,
contact the
project team or
have a look at
the details on Councils website. There are a
number of categories and a prize for each category. Entries close 27th February.

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Community Survey
To achieve the best possible
outcomes for the CKPoM,
we need to have as much
knowledge of the koala
population in the area as
can be obtained. To this
end, we are seeking input
from the community, especially in relation to the following:
Knowledge of koalas on

your property or in your

area, both recent and in
the past. Records prior
to 1996 are of particular
interest;

Any locations where ko-

alas are regularly sighted

within the study area or
general environs;
Any personal experi-

ence/observations on
koala habitat rehabilitation/management - negative or positive; and
Any other comments/

ideas about how best to

assist with the long term
survival of the local koala population.

Community Workshop
A community workshop will
be held in late February/early
March this year which will
aim to provide information to
residents about koalas in the
area, koala habitat and why a
Koala Plan of Management is
important. The project
teams lead ecologists, as

well as members of Council

will be available to answer
your questions and provide
you with answers to questions
regarding koalas in the Cooma
-Monaro Shire and how the
CKPoM works.

You can obtain the survey

by:
Completion of Feedback
Form online at https://
www.surveymonkey.com/r/
CKZMSCH
Completion of a hard copy
Feedback Form which can
be downloaded from Councils website and emailed to:
Coomakoalas
@greenloaning.com.au
or calling the project director Alison Martin directly on
(02) 66226668

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Coming Events:
Closing of school competition: 27th February
Community Workshop: Soon to be announced. Watch this space!

Useful Websites:
Office of Environment and Heritage, Native Animal Facts:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/thekoala.htm
Office of Environment and Heritage, Threatened Species Profile:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?
id=10616
Australian Koala Foundation: https://www.savethekoala.com/

extensively on the assessment of koala populations in

general in the southeast region, in collaboration with
colleagues in the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage.
Stephen Fletcher, Director of Stephen Fletcher & Associ-

About the Project Team

ates, also has been engaged to assist with the community

Greenloaning Biostudies is a specialist Ecological

phen is an environmental planner with over 25 years

Consulting firm with a strong background in all

experience. The project team is also well supported by

types of flora and fauna surveys and technical

members of Councils Koala Committee, with represent-

report and management plan preparation. Alison

atives from state government authorities, local organisa-

Martin, as Director, has over 35 years experience

tions and community representatives.

and agency consultation components of the project. Ste-

in field ecology and report writing.

Working with Greenloaning Biostudies on this

Contact:

project is Dr Steve Phillips, a well-known koala

Phone: 02) 66 226 668 or 0412 049 393

specialist with extensive experience in koala ecology and management. Steve also has worked

E-mail:

extensively on the assessment of koala popula-

Coomakoalas@greenloaning.com.au