A kilometre of trees have been planted along the North Pine River to support a new koala movement corridor between Nelson Road and Ron Thomason Reserve in Lawnton.

Councillor for Division 8 Mick Gillam said 350 koala food and habitat trees including blue, grey, and rusty gums and Moreton Bay ash trees had been planted on the southern side of the river.

“The plantings will connect the two established habitats at Nelson Road and Ron Thomason Reserve, creating an important green infrastructure linkage along the North Pine River habitat corridor,” Cr Gillam said.

“We know there’s an existing koala population in this area, which is why it’s so important that we plant more trees to thicken up the vegetation to provide them with safe passage, habitat and additional sources of food.

“We’ll be planting more trees along this linkage over the coming months to provide shade for a future pathway for pedestrians and cyclists and to improve green infrastructure corridor connectivity to support local wildlife, especially koalas.

“The project will increase the ecological function of the corridor system while providing valuable refuge habitat for the fauna which use it.”

Council’s Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program improves road safety for motorists and wildlife through the delivery of a range of initiatives including fauna movement underpasses, fauna rope bridges, road side (animal exclusion) fencing, animal refuge poles, nest box habitat, wildlife pavement stencils, monitoring equipment and habitat enhancement works.

Above image features Cr Gillam.