Locals stand up for koala food trees. Source: Redland City Bulletin
My first story, Smooch & Rose is playing out for real in a neighbourhood near me. Council has just voted unanimously to approve a development application which will include the removal of twenty koala food trees in an area where koalas live.
But what about the koalas?
Ormiston is an outer Brisbane suburb, where koalas are seen regularly, and has a lovely leafy feel. It’s not far from where I set Smooch & Rose, but like many recent developments in the Redlands, including the one which inspired me to write Smooch & Rose, the koala trees are set to go. Twenty koala food trees are in the way of future houses, and are not protected because “their location conflicts with infrastructure”.
Locals are up in arms. It’s a heart breaking result. But perhaps, just perhaps, there is time, and the koala trees can be saved. Can’t we have development but koalas too? Surely we can compromise?
You can write to the Redland City Council Mayor, Karen Williams, and request the trees be protected. Join me and all koala lovers out there to do a ‘Rose’, and stand up for what you believe in.
Redland Mayor Karen Williams address :
Tallowwood Tales 