Planting program to provide safe haven for koala population

AN Environmental Sustainability grant will help part-fund a planting program that will aid the long-term survival of the local koala population.

The City of Greater Geelong granted $9000 to not-for-profit organisation the Koala Clancy Foundation to help create an indigenous tree corridor between the You Yangs and Little River.

The community-driven program plans to plant more than 3000 grassy woodland trees and shrubs along privately owned farmland near Little River.

Koala Clancy Foundation president Janine Duffy said the program would help koalas move into the area along the river to provide relief in times of heat stress such as drought or bushfire as we enter the hottest period of the year.

“This project is especially critical given the impact of climate change and the likelihood that koala habitat away from waterways will become increasingly dry,” Ms Duffy said.

“We’ve been lucky to find a landowner willing to provide a broad corridor, allowing us to convert a large area of farmland into grassy woodland.”

Windermere Ward Councillor Kylie Grzybek said the organisation was doing amazing work and was only too happy to support it.

“The You Yangs and surrounds are home to many precious and endangered native plants and animals, and it’s just so important that we do what we can to help them survive and thrive into the future,” Ms Grzybek said.

“The Koala Clancy Foundation is doing great work and the Council is glad to be offering support via this grant.”

Planting will take place between June and August, 2021.

The Koala Clancy Foundation has already planted around 16,500 trees at 11 sites across Greater Geelong since 2016.

The grant was among 120 awarded by Council on December 15 in the first round of its 2020-21 Community Grants program.

For more information about the foundation and details of tree planting days, head to koalaclancyfoundation.org.au.