Mt Coot-tha Protection Alliance (MCPA) welcomed the announcement of re-introducing koalas to Mt Coot-tha if a sound plan can be produced, including increasing koala habitat trees.
However, endangered koalas could be at risk from night drivers if the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens light show goes ahead, according to a spokesperson from the MCPA community group.
In support, representatives from the ‘Save the Wallabies and Koalas of White’s Hill’ community group raised concerns about the combination of koalas and increased night-time traffic.
“If there is an increase in people from out of the area travelling at night that aren’t familiar with the presence and behaviour of our koalas and other nocturnal animals, it increases the risk of car strike. Teamed with the recent announcement to release more koalas into Mt Coot-tha, we hope that this doesn’t cause similar issues to those we experienced around White’s Hill, Camp
Hill”.
According to the statistics tracked by ‘Save the Wallabies and Koalas of White’s Hill’ group, in just 9 months of 2023, almost 100 koalas died or were presumed dead due to vehicle strikes, particularly between dusk and dawn.
Despite this danger, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner last month announced on ABC News that koalas would be re-introduced at Mt Coot-tha.
He said the area had been deliberately chosen to ensure the safety of the koalas and prevent vehicle strikes.
Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens borders Mt Coot-tha Forest which has recorded 370 wildlife species.
A spokesperson for the Mount Coot-tha Protection Alliance (MCPA) said in addition to the roadkill issue, the intense skyglow radiating upwards from the light show would impact wildlife well beyond the boundaries of the display itself.
“It is completely irresponsible to allow vehicles and crowds to visit an area so close to such an environmentally significant site.
“In approving the night light show, the council is being totally negligent in its duty of care to protect Mt Coot-tha’s flora and fauna.
“We have seen documentation in which a council representative from its Major Projects and Asset Co-ordination team stated that the approval of Lumina had resulted from a meticulous assessment of its potential impacts on the surrounding environment.
“Yet the surveys conducted by council failed to record all species of fauna known to be present in the site, and while noise pollution has been identified as an emergent threat for species and ecosystems, the noise level calculations were made for residential properties outside the Mount Coot-tha Gardens area.
“We also expect that mortality rates of nocturnal bird and bat species listed as significant fauna will increase due to elevated netting, wires and cables permanently installed in their foraging habitat.”
Research Fellow Dr Loren Fardell from The University of Queensland, an expert in the causes and effects of stress in wildlife, said “While the footprint of these shows may look small, their paths often wind through a lot of habitat and their impact extends well beyond the trail and can have really profound flow on effects through the food chain.”
The Mt Coot-tha Protection Alliance group believes the council is putting financial gain ahead of its responsibility to protect Mt Coot-tha’s wildlife.
“Minutes of a council meeting held on 16 August 2023 state that the council stands to receive a one million dollar cash injection plus a share of ticket sales.
“This shows a clear conflict of interest for the council in assessing the developer’s application for these light shows.”
In July last year, council planners approved Light Dreaming Pty Ltd to operate light shows, despite 98 per cent of public submissions objecting to the proposal.
The Australian company approved by council to run the Lumina Light Shows at Mt Coot-tha has no experience running light shows and no contract with Canadian company ‘Moment Factory’ to use the Lumina Night Walk branding.
The Mt Coot-tha Protection Alliance is a community advocacy group with a growing supporter base of thousands of Brisbane residents.
(20+) Save the Koalas and Wallabies of White’s Hill | Facebook
Koalas set to be reintroduced to Brisbane bushland, including at Mt Coot-tha Reserve – ABC News