As volunteer wildlife rehabilitators and WILVO 5441 6200 Hotline operators, we often see the future
as dismal for our native animals.
This week WILVO representatives, as one of the key stakeholders, were invited to a meeting to
discuss the Sunshine Coast Council’s Macropod Conservation Plan. Some years in the making,
WILVOS have attended each meeting.
We were extremely fortunate also to hear Dr Bev Brunton’s update on the University of the
Sunshine Coast’s Eastern Grey Kangaroos genetics project. It was interesting to hear more about
their local diversity. Through development this diversity is affected by structures such as roads and
buildings blocking movement. Suburban and small rural blocks often use fencing methods that
block pathways that had previously been traversed by native animals.
Jacqueline, the Council’s Senior Natural Areas Planner, presented the draft and I was struck by the
practicality of it. Our depleting wildlife numbers are a community problem, not only an issue for
Council and Government. Residents do need to co-exist with native animals as we choose to live in
what hopefully will be a wildlife friendly biosphere. Planning in years past did not reflect the
present concern for the future of our wildlife. Such rapid development would not have been
anticipated and the knowledge of wildlife in a suburban landscape was limited.
Many practical solutions are offered in this Macropod Conservation Plan. I’d love to see everyone
read this Plan and mark on the map where macropods are seen. There is a comments section as
feedback to the draft plan. We need to let the Council know we care about our macropods and their
future.
https://haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/draft-macropod-conservation-plan
It is not easy organizing the day in between animal feeds to attend a meeting but this was well worth
the effort!
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre
Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au
Have your say on the Macropod Conservation Plan…
