What the QLD Government Koala Conservation Strategy Discussion Paper Means for Project Stakeholders

The South East Queensland is at a critical planning crossroads. Rapid population growth, infrastructure delivery and housing supply pressures continue to intensify—at the same time as one of the region’s most iconic species, the koala, remains in decline. In response, the Queensland Government has released a Discussion Paper titled A fresh start for South East Queensland koalas, commencing consultation on a proposed South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2026–2036.

Importantly, the paper does not introduce new statutory controls. Instead, it invites planners, councils, industry and the community to put forward ideas and solutions on how koala conservation can be strengthened while still supporting housing supply and economic development across SEQ.

Why a new strategy—and why consultation matters

Koalas are listed as endangered at both state and national levels, with SEQ supporting the largest remaining population in Queensland. At the same time, the region is forecast to accommodate an additional 1.54 million people by 2041, increasing pressure on land supply and ecological networks.

The previous SEQ Koala Strategy (2020–2025) operated over a five-year horizon. The proposed 10-year strategy reflects a longer-term outlook, but the Government is explicitly seeking feedback on timeframes, targets, planning settings and regulatory approaches before finalising the Strategy.

For project stakeholders, this consultation phase is a critical opportunity to influence how conservation objectives and development pathways are balanced in practice.

Four focus areas with direct planning implications

The Discussion Paper helps signal the future policy direction through four focus areas.

1. Protecting and restoring habitat -There is a strong emphasis on landscape-scale habitat protection, restoration and connectivity, rather than isolated site-based responses. Improved coordination of restoration projects and better alignment between state and Commonwealth offset requirements are flagged—particularly relevant to structure planning and growth area sequencing.
2. Reducing threats – Vehicle strikes, dog attacks, disease, bushfire and climate impacts remain leading causes of koala mortality. While many responses sit outside statutory planning, the paper reinforces how settlement patterns, road design and infrastructure siting can reduce cumulative impacts.
3. Working together – The Strategy is framed around collaboration across governments, First Nations peoples, industry, landholders and communities. This points to increased expectations for co-design, shared delivery and partnership-based planning, particularly where conservation outcomes rely on private land.
4. Enhancing monitoring, reporting and mapping – Stakeholders have highlighted long-standing issues with habitat mapping accuracy and accessibility. Proposed improvements to monitoring programs and spatial data are likely to inform future updates to planning scheme overlays and assessment triggers, reinforcing the need for planners to stay ahead of mapping changes.

Appendix 1: Planning measures under review—not new proposals

Of particular interest to project stakeholders is Appendix 1, which summarises potential amendments to the SEQ koala habitat regulatory framework. These measures are not proposed by the Discussion Paper itself. Rather, the paper seeks feedback on whether planning reforms identified in the 2024 Decision Post Implementation Impact Analysis Statement (Post IAS) should now be progressed. The IAS can be accessed at Implementation Impact Assessment Analysis Statement.

The Post IAS concluded that while the existing koala habitat regulations increased protection, they also introduced unnecessary complexity, cost and uncertainty, including loopholes that could result in unintended clearing.

Key measures presented for comment include:

• Clearer exemption thresholds – Retaining a 500 m² clearing allowance on lots ≤1 ha and increasing allowances to 800 m² on lots >1 ha, recognising servicing needs on larger rural properties.
• Clarification of partial exemptions – Confirming that where clearing exceeds an exemption threshold, the entire impact becomes assessable, rather than only the area above the threshold. This would represent a pivotal change in how the exemptions are currently administered; likely calling in many more actions as assessable than under the status quo.
• Managing cumulative impacts – Reducing the ability to “stack” multiple exemptions that cumulatively result in significant habitat loss.
• Consequential clearing – Requiring future clearing (e.g. for fences, access tracks or fire management) to be considered upfront as part of material change of use or reconfiguration assessments. This point represents another key change whereby fire management clearing for example associated with a proposed development would become assessable development where clearing footprint exceeds the exemption thresholds noted above.
• Streamlining downstream approvals – Removing duplicate operational works approvals where impacts have already been assessed at an earlier stage.
• Koala safe movement considerations – Introducing clearer guidance on siting and design measures that support koala movement and reduce risk.

The Discussion Paper is clear that these measures are intended to clarify and simplify existing policy, not introduce new conservation requirements or constrain housing supply. Stakeholder feedback is being sought on whether these reforms strike the right balance.

What this means for Project Stakeholders

While the Strategy remains in consultation, the direction of travel is clear. Planning in SEQ will increasingly be expected to:

• Address koala habitat and movement at early strategic stages
• Demonstrate how growth and conservation objectives are integrated
• Rely on clear thresholds, consistent assessment pathways and robust mapping
• Reduce risk through upfront design rather than downstream mitigation

For project stakeholders this is a chance to help shape a framework that is workable, proportionate and defensible.

Have your say: Consultation now open

The Queensland Government is seeking submissions to inform:

• the final SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy
• potential updates to koala habitat mapping
• and whether the Post IAS planning measures should proceed.

Consultation closes at 5:00 pm on 15 March 2026.

The discussion paper can be accessed at Developing a new South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy Discussion Paper

Submissions can be made by:

• Email: SEQKoalaStrategy@detsi.qld.gov.au
• Online: via the Queensland Government consultation portal – http://www.detsi.qld.gov.au/consultation

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is sourced from publicly available documents and resources. New Ground strive to ensure the content is accurate and up to date, however amendments or updates may occur. For the most up to date information, please refer to the links