A coalition of Southern Queensland environmental and community organisations is calling on the Queensland Government to urgently expand koala conservation efforts beyond South East Queensland (SEQ), warning that without immediate action, regional koala populations face increasing risk of decline and local extinction.

The submission, representing stakeholders across the Southern Downs, Toowoomba, Burnett regions, Gympie, and Fraser Coast, has been lodged in response to the State Government’s consultation on a new SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy.

The submission highlights several urgent issues:

• Policy gaps: Existing protections largely stop at the SEQ boundary, despite clear evidence of viable koala populations in surrounding regions.
• Habitat loss and fragmentation: Land clearing, development pressures, and outdated mapping frameworks are accelerating habitat decline.
• Volunteer burden: Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation efforts are overwhelmingly delivered by unpaid volunteers without sustainable funding.
• Missed opportunities: Extensive regional data, citizen science, and on-ground expertise are not being adequately integrated into state policy.

While welcoming renewed attention on koala conservation, the group says the current strategy fails to address the reality that significant koala populations exist outside SEQ and are critical to the species’ long-term survival across Queensland.

“Koalas are now listed as endangered across the entire state, yet protections and funding remain heavily concentrated within SEQ. Regional Queensland is carrying the burden of conservation with little government support,” said Ahri Tallon from the Darling Downs Environment Council.
To highlight both the urgency of the issue and the strength of community-led solutions, a Koala Corridor Planting Event is planned by Darling Downs Environment Council:
Date: Tuesday, April 28th
Time: 8:30am
Location: Linthorpe
This on-ground action will bring together the Darling Downs Environment Council, Pittsworth Landcare, and Millmerran Landcare, with sponsorship support from Stroud Builders.

The planting will contribute to the establishment of a critical koala movement corridor in the Toowoomba region, demonstrating the type of practical, community-driven conservation work that is occurring across regional Queensland—often with limited funding and support.

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Submitted by:
Ahri Tallon,
Coordinator,
Darling Downs Environment Council
info@ddec.org.au