Working together to protect our koalas a community success story

Greater Sydney Local Land Services has been working for many years to protect koala habitat in the Kurrajong area, and this year the results are something to celebrate. One local landholder spotted a koala on his property for the first time in 50 years – a powerful sign of recovery and hope for the region’s koala population.

Iconic to the Australian landscape, koalas hold a special place in our hearts and environment, playing a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area was heavily impacted by the 2019–2020 bushfires, which devastated habitat for koalas and other wildlife. Since then, Greater Sydney Local Land Services has been working with landholders, councils and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to restore bushland and strengthen buffer zones around the heritage area.

“Raising awareness in the community and among landholders is key to protecting vital habitat for koalas,” said Angie Fricker, Senior Land Services Officer.

“Although koalas capture our hearts, the work to improve their habitat benefits far more than just one species. These projects support a wide range of native wildlife and contribute to healthier, more resilient landscapes.”

Koalas depend on a small number of native eucalypt species for both food and shelter, making these trees vital to their survival. Shelter trees not only offer safe resting places but also serve as corridors that allow koalas to move across the landscape.

According to ecologist Dr Kellie Leigh from Science for Wildlife, the Kurrajong area is a known koala hotspot, rich in the tree species that koalas love. However, after the devastating 2019–2020 megafires, koalas avoided burnt areas for over two years, and even five years on, koala activity remains limited in impacted areas. “This highlights the importance of protecting unburnt refuge areas and reconnecting fragmented habitats, including on private properties, to support the recovery of koala populations.

By protecting and planting these key species, landholders can play a crucial role in supporting the recovery of koala populations and preserving local biodiversity.

As part of the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species program, Greater Sydney Local Land Services is leading an on-ground project in partnership with Landcare and private landholders across key koala habitat in Kurrajong. Activities include weed control, bush regeneration and revegetation to restore and connect habitat, while building landholder skills to maintain these improvements long-term.

“Most Kurrajong private landholders appreciate how important their area is for growing the koala population,” said Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman.

“Equipping them with information and skills will give them greater confidence in how they manage their properties, something the whole community will be grateful for.”

On 16 November 2025, the project brought together participating landholders, the local Landcare coordinator, Land for Wildlife representatives and a bush regeneration expert from Blue Tongue Ecosystems for a practical field day. Attendees learned about maintaining bush regeneration works, including habitat plantings and managing weed growth effectively.

“Collaboration is at the heart of this project,” Ms Fricker said. “When government, community and conservation groups work together, we can make a lasting difference. The return of koalas to Kurrajong is proof that these partnerships are working.”

Kurrajong is home to a growing number of community initiatives focused on koala conservation.
The Little Wheeny Creek Landcare group has restored and reconnected fragmented habitats over many years to give koalas a better chance to thrive.

Annual events like the Kurrajong Koala Fest attracts hundreds of visitors eager to learn how they can help.

And even students from six primary schools in Kurrajong are learning about koala conservation through an education program delivered by Brewongle Environmental Education Centre and funded by Greater Sydney Local Land Services. Kurrajong North Public School was abuzz when students discovered a koala perched in a playground tree – a magical encounter that strengthened their pride in being Koala Custodians.

With continued community support, koalas in the Hawkesbury region will have a safe and thriving future.

Are you a landholder in the Kurrajong area looking to help protect our local koalas? We’d love to hear from you. Contact your Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299 and speak with one of our friendly officers. We can visit your property and offer free, practical advice on creating koala habitat and improving native vegetation.

Together, we can make a real difference – one property at a time.

Media contact

For more information, please contact Chris Finley on chris.finley@lls.nsw.gov.au