Save western Sydney’s former ADI Site. Website of the ADI Residents Action Group
Koalas

There has been many Koala sightings at and near the ADI Site. In November 2003 ADI RAG members and others visited the site with the purpose of taking video footage for an amateur documentary. Whilst inspecting an area of Forest Red Gums (E. tereticornis) suspected Koala scat was found. The scat was sent to Dr Rob Close, a Koala expert from the University of Western Sydney. He confirmed it to belong to a Koala. He then sent the scat to Dan Lunny, another Koala expert at the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, for a second opinion. Again it was confirmed as Koala scat. 

Click on below pictures to see Koala scat find.

Anthony at Koala tree.jpg (106768 bytes)scat closeup.jpg (71853 bytes)

ADI RAG attempted to get the NSW NPWS to investigate the existence of Koalas at the ADI Site and in adjacent bushland areas but they refused, appearing sceptical about the scat find and implying ADI RAG had planted the scat. Again NPWS demonstrated its reluctance to investigate environmental concerns at the ADI Site. 

ADI RAG pursued this and other matters to do with the identification of threatened species at the site and in July 2004 NPWS agreed to accompany ADI RAG members to investigate a number of our concerns including the Koala scat find. 

The Site visit took place on July 30 and involved NPWS Officers; Jonathon Sanders, Sarah Hill, Tricia Hogbin and Threatened Species Officer, Ray Giddins, three Lend Lease reps plus their environmental consultants Cumberland Ecology.

We took them to the tree where the Koala scat was found in November 2003. NPWS Threatened Species Officer Ray Giddins and David Robertson, Lend Leases ecologist, inspected the tree which still had numerous large scratches on the trunk. Lend Lease claimed the scratches were caused by a Goanna. Ray Giddins searched at the base of the tree amongst the leaf litter and found more scat. He took it away to be assessed.

It was later confirmed that the scat found by the NSW NPWS Threatened Species Officer, Ray Giddins, was probably Koala scat but due to the age of the scat it was not able to be scientifically tested. Nonetheless NPWS said it was not possum or any other animal and therefore belonged to a Koala.

Despite this admission from NPWS that the scat that they discovered was that of a Koala they still continued to deny the the possible existence of Koalas at the ADI Site and in surrounding areas. They qualified this by making the unbelievable statement that the scat belonged to:

"an isolated Koala or one that had been released in the area…and that… on that basis there was not strong enough evidence to justify any Koala search." Lou Ewins, DEC Manager of the Conservation Programs and Planning Division (August 2004)

This statement by NPWS is purely subjective and lacks scientific merit. It conveniently ignores over a decade of recorded and anecdotal evidence of Koala sightings in the area.

The NSW NPWS continued to down play the existence of Koalas in the area but remarkably in March 2005 they used the possible existence of Koalas at the site and in adjacent areas as one of their reasons why they oppose the construction of a feral proof fence around the proposed Regional Park.

The Daily Telegraph covered this revelation by the NPWS

NPWS appear to be all over the place on the issue of Koalas. Is this an admission by them that they believe a Koala colony exists in the area? If it is, are they now going to do something about protecting them?

We must remember that massive urban growth is planned for the South Creek Valley. The identification of a Koala colony in this area may jeopardise the governments plans for urban development. Therefore the lack of effort by the NPWS to investigate the presence of Koalas in this area. 

The following information was provided to ADI RAG by Dr Robert Close of UWS Campbelltown. He also provided NPWS with the same information of the Koala sightings.

1) State of pellet collected by ADI RAG on site
I saw 2 pellets that were koala; they both retained their patina indicating that they'd not been exposed to significant rain or dew: therefore probably no more than a month or two old
2) Re evidence of koalas on ADI site.
Kevin Andrews / Denis Willaston observed 3 koalas, one with young in Pyrotechnics area.
Steven Kerr  reported  report of koalas at "bomb site" and also sightings of koalas crossing  Dunheved Rd  on the eastern side near the Golf course and on N side  at Palmyra Rd past Willmot on Stoney Creek Road near the transmitting station.
Sylvia Nuttgens reported reports of 2 independent sightings from Ninth Ave end and Whalan:
1)Jennifer Cook reported photographing a young animal a few m from the fence and 200m from entrance gate on Capt. Cook Drive in Jan 2001 (However, on checking I  found that she had mislaid the photos)
2) Peter Bruny worked there in 1989 on the Standard Wave system and saw koala in South Creek area; his directions were to go to Borrowdale Way and look east for a cluster of green huts.

Wires record: no. 26517 25/7/1990 of a koala collected from Franklin Cr opposite Lang Cr, Blackett. Animal released Lemon tree Passage
WIRES also reported a road kill on Forest Way past roundabout on the Whalan side. No official record no. given. Could have been BT possum although original call was for a koala

Noel Butler found droppings beneath a huge red gum beside a waterway leading into South Creek (Note: this is  not far from the "Bomb site").

3)  Requirements for SISs or SEPP 44.

Where the effects of a development are considered significantly harmful to a threatened species, a Species Impact Statement (SIS) should be required and this entails detailed investigation. NPWS will decide specific requirements for each SIS which  will then assist  the determining authorities in making decisions.
 SEPP 44 requires that for Development Applications "potential koala habitats" must be ascertained and such habitats are defined as having 15% of trees  of the species listed in the SEPP 44. The applicant must then ascertain whether the potential habitat is "core koala habitat" ie does it have a population of breeding koalas. If the site has core habitat then a plan of management must be prepared by the applicant.
4) Does the ADI site meet the requirements for an SIS or SEPP 44?
Having an SIS would be decided from discussion of a suitable EIS.
Re SEPP 44: Parts of the site appear to be "potential koala habitat" given that River red gums (E. tereticornis) are listed in SEPP 44 as food trees and this species occurs in a variety of associations across the site. In addition there is a small area of red gum/ swamp oak woodland/ forest which includes another of the food species listed in SEPP 44 and from my experience would be very likely habitat .

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