Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Port Stephens Koalas is a volunteer organisation in my electorate of Paterson that works tirelessly to rescue and care for sick and injured koalas. The urban threats to our koala population are very real, and it is estimated that there are only between 200 and 400 in our local area. About 50 deaths are recorded every year.

Port Stephens Koalas, which was formed 30 years ago as the Hunter Koala Preservation Society, has 180 members and many more supporters. It has 60 active volunteers, who provide best-practice care for sick, injured and orphaned koalas to give them the best possible chance of returning to the wild. They care for between 80 and 100 koalas every single year in their homes, and keep an important database for tracking and research.

The good news is that the group are inching closer to their goal of building a $3 million koala hospital facility at Treescape Holiday Park, One Mile Beach. They have the support of Port Stephens Council and some funding from the New South Wales government's Stronger Communities Fund, which they gained with the help of my colleague the state member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington. Now they are seeking federal support under the Building Better Regions Fund. I fully endorse their endeavour. I know that we need to save this icon for Paterson and for Australia.