The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) has responded to advice from the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer on protecting one of the State’s largest and healthiest koala populations with updates to its Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP).
Announcing the Plan, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes said changes to the CPCP, which sought to minimise negative impacts to biodiversity from future development in south-west Sydney, put protection of koalas at the heart of planning.
“After seeking advice from the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer on the draft Plan, I’m pleased to confirm we are adopting all 31 recommendations to protect our critical koala population,” Mr Stokes said.
“We have updated the Plan to protect additional areas of habitat and ensure that wildlife corridors are suitable for koala movement,” he said.
Minister for the Environment, Matt Kean said one of the leading threats to koala populations in the wild was the loss and fragmentation of their habitat.
“South West Sydney is home to the only disease-free koala populations in the Sydney basin and it is one of the most important koala populations anywhere in the State,” Mr Kean said.
“This advice from the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer is crucial in protecting koala habitat in the Campbelltown and Macarthur regions as we finalise the implementation of the CPCP,” he said.
“As this part of Sydney continues to grow, these recommendations will guide future development in the area and ensure koala habitat and wildlife corridors are protected in perpetuity.”
Mr Stokes said DPIE’s Greater Macarthur 2040 Plan was also being finalised and would work alongside the CPCP to create koala movement corridors, improve connections and allow koalas to travel more safely throughout the region.
The CPCP and Greater Macarthur Plan are expected to be finalised and released in 2022.
The Department’s 19-page response to the Chief Scientist & Engineer’s recommendations and CPCP update can be accessed at this PS News link.
