Koala Habitat Assessments

Koala habitat assessments are specialist ecological assessments required for development in mapped koala habitat areas across South East Queensland. In South East Queensland, the first question is whether the site is within a Koala Priority Area or mapped koala habitat area. Depending on the location and proposed works, clearing or development may be prohibited, exempt, assessable by the State against State Code 25, or require a koala habitat assessment and avoidance/mitigation strategy.

With the koala listed as endangered under the EPBC Act 1999, and strict state planning requirements under the Planning Regulation 2017 and SDAP State Code 25, getting your koala assessment right is critical to achieving development approval. Queensland Ecologists provides koala habitat assessments that address the relevant state and Commonwealth assessment requirements for the site, including assessment against relevant exemptions and assessment benchmarks.

What Is a Koala Habitat Assessment?

A koala habitat assessment evaluates the quality and significance of koala habitat on a development site, determines koala use of the site, and assesses the potential impacts of development on koala populations and habitat connectivity. In Queensland, koala habitat assessments are governed primarily by SDAP State Code 25 (Development in SEQ koala habitat areas), which sets out detailed requirements for survey methodology, reporting, and impact mitigation.

A comprehensive koala habitat assessment includes:

• Koala habitat mapping - identification and mapping of koala habitat areas on the site, classified according to the categories used in state mapping (Koala Priority Area, and mapped koala habitat area)
• Koala food tree identification - identification and mapping of koala food trees (primarily Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Melaleuca, and Lophostemon species) at the individual tree level, with species, diameter at breast height (DBH), and health recorded
• Koala habitat quality assessment - evaluation of habitat quality based on food tree density, species composition, canopy connectivity, proximity to threats (roads, dogs), and landscape context
• Koala presence and density surveys - field surveys using the Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) methodology to estimate koala density. SAT surveys involve systematic searching of trees within defined plots, recording koala scat (droppings) beneath each tree to calculate an activity index
• Movement corridor assessment - identification and assessment of koala movement corridors within and connecting to the site, including consideration of barriers such as roads, fences, and gaps in canopy connectivity
• Koala-sensitive design recommendations - where development is to proceed, recommendations for koala-sensitive design in accordance with the Koala-sensitive Design Guideline, including fauna-friendly fencing, fauna crossings, revegetation with koala food trees, and management of domestic dogs

When Do You Need a Koala Habitat Assessment?

Koala habitat assessments are triggered by specific state and federal planning requirements:

• SDAP State Code 25 - this is the primary trigger for koala assessments in Queensland. Development within a Koala Priority Area or mapped koala habitat area, as shown on the state mapping layers, triggers assessment against State Code 25. This code applies to development requiring a development permit under the Planning Act 2016 that involves reconfiguring a lot, material change of use, or operational works for clearing koala habitat.
• EPBC Act referral - with the koala listed as endangered under the EPBC Act 1999, any proposed action in koala habitat that may result in a significant impact on the koala population requires referral to the federal government. The EPBC Act Referral Guidelines for the Vulnerable Koala (noting the recent uplisting to endangered) provides guidance on when referral is necessary.
• Council planning scheme requirements - many SEQ councils have additional local requirements for koala assessment, including specific koala overlays, management plans, and clearing conditions. Brisbane City Council, for example, has its own koala conservation measures in addition to state requirements.
• SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy - the Queensland Government’s conservation strategy identifies priority areas for koala protection and informs both state and local planning requirements.

You should expect a koala habitat assessment to be required if your development site is located within or adjacent to mapped koala habitat in SEQ, particularly if the site contains eucalypt woodland or forest.

Our Koala Habitat Assessment Process

1. Desktop assessment and mapping review - we review state koala mapping layers (Koala Priority Area, mapped koala habitat area, koala priority areas), council overlays, aerial imagery, and WildNet koala records to understand the mapped koala values on and around your site.
2. Koala food tree survey - our ecologists systematically identify and map all koala food trees on the site. Each tree is recorded with species, DBH, canopy condition, and GPS location. This data is essential for impact quantification and koala-sensitive design.
3. SAT koala density surveys - we conduct Spot Assessment Technique surveys following the methodology prescribed by State Code 25. This involves searching beneath a standardised number of trees for koala scats, calculating an activity index that indicates koala use of different parts of the site.
4. Habitat quality and connectivity assessment - we evaluate habitat quality based on food tree density and species, canopy connectivity, proximity to threats, and landscape context. We map koala movement corridors and assess the site’s role in the broader koala habitat network.
5. Impact assessment against State Code 25 - we assess the proposed development against each performance outcome in State Code 25, documenting how the development complies or can be conditioned to comply. We identify any unavoidable impacts and calculate offset requirements where applicable.
6. Koala-sensitive design recommendations - we provide detailed recommendations for koala-sensitive design, including lot layout, fauna-friendly fencing, crossing structures, revegetation plans, and dog management conditions, all in accordance with the Koala-sensitive Design Guideline.
7. Reporting - a comprehensive report is prepared that meets all requirements of State Code 25 and, where relevant, provides sufficient information for EPBC Act self-assessment or formal referral.

Which Councils Require This?

Koala habitat assessments are most frequently required in the following SEQ council areas, which contain significant mapped koala habitat:

• Brisbane City Council - extensive Koala Priority Area and mapped koala habitat area areas, particularly in western and southern suburbs
• Logan City Council - significant koala populations, large areas of mapped koala habitat
• Redland City Council - critical koala habitat, particularly on mainland and North Stradbroke Island
• Moreton Bay Regional Council - extensive koala habitat in Pine Rivers and Caboolture areas
• Gold Coast City Council - koala habitat in northern Gold Coast and hinterland areas
• Sunshine Coast Council - koala populations in hinterland and coastal areas
• Noosa Shire Council - koala habitat in coastal and hinterland areas
• Ipswich City Council - koala habitat in eastern parts of the city

Related Services

• Ecological Assessment Reports - overarching ecological assessment that may incorporate or be supplemented by a koala habitat assessment
• Fauna Surveys - broader fauna assessment that may include initial koala habitat evaluation
• Targeted Threatened Species Surveys - surveys for other EVNT fauna species that may co-occur with koalas
• Flora and Vegetation Surveys - vegetation mapping that identifies koala food tree communities

Get a Quote

Queensland Ecologists specialises in koala habitat assessments across South East Queensland. We understand the detailed requirements of SDAP State Code 25 and the EPBC Act referral process, and we deliver thorough, compliant reports that support successful development outcomes.

Call us on (07) 3018 7538 or request a quote online. We can quickly assess your site against state mapping and advise on the scope and cost of a koala habitat assessment for your project.