Koala population monitoring program

There have been a number of studies into areas of Campbelltown during the past decade, and updating this information with current and accurate figures will help us to understand the overall health of our koala population. It’s an action of the Campbelltown Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPOM)(PDF, 12MB) (P44).

The study will target private and public lands across the Campbelltown Local Government Area (LGA) with a main focus on rural properties with native remnant (original) vegetation. The main suburbs of interest are those that are Macquarie Fields, Long Point, Ingleburn, Minto Heights, Kentlyn, St Helens Park Wedderburn and Gilead.

We are casting a wide net to ensure that any gaps in the survey design on public lands can be covered appropriately by private land. If your property is not selected you will be notified and there will be plenty of other opportunities, including being a part of our future Land for Wildlife and Koalatown Certified properties programs.

Koala survey data collected as part of the monitoring program will be used to investigate the health of our local koala population to ensure that our local koala population isn't at risk of population decline, and remains free of disease. Koala sighting data collected will be uploaded into the NSW Bionet species sighting database, and will also be used to inform future mapping revisions of our CKPOM(PDF, 12MB) .

The data will be used to monitor the population size, distribution and density across the LGA. The data will be compiled and will be will be uploaded into the NSW Bionet species sighting database which includes GPS coordinates.

We are using a RapidSat assessment methodology (a quick version of the Spot Assessment), so it is expected that surveys will take no longer than 30 minutes.

You don’t have to, but you might like to. Our staff and consultants are really knowledgeable about koalas and will be happy to quickly answer any questions you might have while they’re there. If you’re not going to be home, we just need safe access (no dangerous dogs or alike) to do the survey.

Yes. It will be made publically available but will not include any details of the participants.

We have reached out to landowners and developers to have their land included wherever possible, including at Gilead. We will also endeavour to survey any adjoining lands to provide indicative data for these parcels.

No. This project is independent to the NSW Government, the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP) or the proposed Georges River Koala Reserve. Further information about the CPCP and Georges River Koala Reserve can be found on the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s website.