Rockley Mount koalas

The Rockley Mount koala project worked to understand the Rockley Mount koala population size by:

• surveying the population
• encouraging community engagement  
• addressing key threats to the koalas.

Project objectives

The project aimed to:

• improve knowledge of the Rockley Mount population size
• improve and restore habitat
• increase community awareness.

Project background

The Rockley Mount koala population is known to be the largest population in the Bathurst region, yet there is little knowledge about the population size or extent.  

Project delivery

• Initial surveys undertaken at sites to map existing populations, using remote sensing, acoustic recordings and visual identification, and backed by citizen science.  
• Habitat improvement and restoration activities through the targeted planting of up to 5,000 habitat tree seedlings will increase habitat connectivity.  
• Community events, involving Indigenous communicator held to engage with local schools and the broader community. 

Project outcomes

• Landholders and community members recorded sighting when and where it happens onI Spy Koala App.
• Acoustic surveys were done in Spring. Throughout September and October, songmeters were deployed to monitor the local koala population to guide future conservation efforts.
• Central Tablelands Local Land Services hosted community events where landholders could learn more about local populations and how you can help preserve and protect their habitat.

March 2024

The Connecting Koalas project has contributed to the ongoing conservation efforts through the revegetation of 10 hectares to link wildlife corridors and the protection of 50 hectares of remnant koala habitat. This will be supported by several paddock tree projects that will make it safer for koalas to move across our fragmented landscape.

Spring surveys conducted in October and November 2023 have strengthened the knowledge of koala distribution and will be repeated in spring 2024. Songmeters were deployed across the district to record koala vocalisations over a two-week period. These results enable better planning and delivery of on ground activities.

A revegetation and eucalypt identification workshop held in March 2024 attracted an enthusiastic crowd to the Rockley School of Arts Hall. Landholders gained a greater understanding of the eucalypts that koalas in the Central Tablelands prefer as well as some tips and tricks to completing a successful revegetation project on their own property.

Funding and partnerships

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Koala Community Grants. Partners include:

• NSW Department Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (Biodiversity and Conservation Division)
• Central Tablelands Landcare  
• Bathurst Regional Council.

NSW Koala Strategy Team have also provided technical support and ongoing guidance with the delivery of this project.