Ormiston Koalas

Ormiston College Development Approved - Community Action Continues

The Queensland Government has approved the proposed Ormiston College development in the Redlands, despite significant community concern regarding the loss of koala habitat and the potential impacts on an endangered species.

The approved development involves the clearing of approximately 650 mature trees within a mapped Priority Koala Assessable Development Area under the Planning Regulation 2017. The site also contains areas mapped as High Value Bushland and High Value Other Habitat under the Redland City Plan.

Koalas are listed as endangered under both the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act). Habitat loss is recognised by the Queensland Government as the greatest threat to koalas, particularly in South East Queensland.

Despite the potential impacts on koalas and habitat connectivity, the proposal does not appear to have been referred to the Commonwealth Government for assessment under the EPBC Act.

While the State approval process has concluded, there are still important actions the community can take.

What Are We Campaigning For?

We are calling for:

Proper consideration of the impacts this development may have on endangered koalas and Matters of National Environmental Significance under the EPBC Act.
Greater transparency and accountability around environmental assessment processes for major developments.
Stronger protection of mature koala habitat and wildlife corridors in the Redlands.
Improved planning protections to prevent further fragmentation of koala habitat in South East Queensland.
Community voices to be heard when decisions affect wildlife and the natural environment.

Specifically, the Animal Justice Party Queensland are asking that the Commonwealth:

Urgently review whether the approved Ormiston College development may constitute a controlled action under the EPBC Act.
Consider exercising powers under Section 70 of the EPBC Act to require referral of the action.
Assess whether the ecological assessment relied upon sufficiently excludes the likelihood of significant impacts to endangered koalas and habitat connectivity.
Consider whether any compliance or injunctive actions may be warranted should clearing proceed prior to appropriate Commonwealth assessment.

How You Can Help

1. Contact Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt and local MP Henry Pike

The Redlands community deserves strong representation on issues that matter locally, including the protection of koalas and wildlife habitat.

Use our pre-written email to ask Murray Watt and Henry Pike to support stronger protections for koalas and to scrutinise the Ormiston College development and its impacts on endangered wildlife habitat.

Key concerns raised by the community include:

ecological concerns identified in the Koala Action Group review,
recent koala sightings near the site,
impacts on habitat connectivity,
and the absence of referral under the EPBC Act despite potential impacts on an endangered species.

Organisations including the Animal Justice Party Queensland, ACF Bayside, Koala Action Group and others are also preparing detailed evidence-based correspondence regarding the proposal and its impacts on koalas.

Community members with additional information or expertise are encouraged to separately contact Murray Watt directly with detailed concerns relating to:

ecological assessment deficiencies,
koala sightings or habitat mapping,
habitat fragmentation and wildlife corridors,
impacts on breeding koalas,
and whether the proposal should have been referred under the EPBC Act.

Email: [email protected]

2. Report Potential Environmental Breaches or Concerns

If you observe koalas onsite, injured or displaced wildlife, active habitat clearing, or other environmental concerns related to the development, you can report the matter directly to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Community reports can help document potential impacts to endangered koalas and whether further Commonwealth scrutiny may be required under the EPBC Act.

If it is safe to do so, include:

photos or videos,
dates and times,
location details,
and a description of what was observed.

Report concerns here:

Report Environmental Incidents and Concerns

3. Speak to Local Media

Public awareness remains important.

Consider contacting your local newspaper, radio station, community publication, or local journalist to share why protecting koala habitat matters to you and your community.

Topics people may wish to raise include:

Loss of mature koala habitat.
The importance of wildlife corridors.
Concerns about cumulative habitat loss in the Redlands.
The absence of Commonwealth assessment.
Community concern regarding the approval.

4. Stay connected with the community

Local residents are continuing to share updates and coordinate community awareness/ demonstrations through the Ormiston koala community group.

Ormiston Koala Community Group

5. Keep Watching

As works progress, community monitoring will remain important. If it is safe to do so, document concerns with photos, videos, dates and location details.

Things to look out for include:

clearing occurring outside approved disturbance areas,
impacts to vegetation intended to be retained,
damage to wildlife corridor areas or rehabilitation zones,
injured, displaced or distressed koalas and other wildlife,
absence of fauna spotter-catchers during vegetation clearing,
clearing activities occurring before wildlife management measures are in place,
excessive sediment runoff, erosion or environmental damage after rain,
fencing or barriers preventing wildlife movement,
lighting, noise or activity impacting nearby habitat areas,
and any works that appear inconsistent with the approved plans or environmental commitments.

You can send observations or concerns to the Koala Action Group at [email protected] or report potential breaches as outlined in section 2 above. You can also report wildlife emergencies to local wildlife rescue organisations where required.

The approval conditions reportedly require ecological monitoring, rehabilitation works and fauna management measures during clearing activities.

Link to the MID Application Approval

What other Animal Justice Party MPs are doing

Animal Justice Party representatives across Australia have consistently advocated for stronger protections for wildlife habitat, native forests, and threatened species.

Examples include:

Emma Hurst MP (NSW) advocating for stronger protections for wildlife and habitat affected by urban development and land clearing.
Georgie Purcell MP (VIC) campaigning for stronger native habitat protections and wildlife welfare reforms.
Amanda Dorn (WA) advocating for stronger protections for native wildlife, habitat conservation, and improved environmental outcomes for animals impacted by development and land clearing.
Animal Justice Party representatives supporting stronger environmental laws, habitat connectivity, and protections for endangered species including koalas.

Protecting wildlife habitat is not just an environmental issue, it is also an animal welfare issue.

See our relevant policies here;