From NSW Parliament to Paris, Gunnedah’s Project Koala is gaining attention.
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Members of Parliament yesterday wore the distinctive Gunnedah’s Project Koala blue badge in support of the project to help save the shire’s koala population.
And on the other side of the world, former Namoi Valley Independent staff member Marie Hobson was proudly wearing her badge outside the Eiffel Tower.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson yesterday took the badges and the project’s mascot, Sunny the Gunny Koala, to Parliament.
Mr Anderson gave a notice of motion seeking the support of Parliament for Gunnedah’s Project Koala.
He also asked Parliament to “support the protection and long-term preservation of koala habitat by planting trees and building water stations”.
Mr Anderson said he was proud to bring the campaign to the attention of Parliament.
He said because he had raised it as a notice of motion, Parliament would need to discuss the matter later in the year.
Speaker Shelley Hancock congratulated Mr Anderson on the issue.
“I thank the Member for Tamworth for supplying members with badges for Project Koala in Gunnedah,” she said.
“I invite members to put on their koala badges. I hope the project is successful and I congratulate the Member for Tamworth on his involvement.”
Sunny the Gunny Koala made a number of visits while in Parliament, including to Environment Minister Mark Speakman, Speaker Shelley Hancock and Government Whip Rebecca Cartwright.
Gunnedah’s Project Koala campaign was launched in January this year with aims of planting 1000 trees, installing 50 water stations, and fund-raising for appropriate projects.
More than 1000 trees were donated to the project through Gunnedah Urban Landcare, with most of them already planted.
The campaign is a collaboration between many community members including the Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah Shire Council, Liverpool Plains Land Management, Gunnedah Urban Landcare, WIRES, Local Land Services, Waterways Wildlife Park and many other individuals and agencies.
It was started by the Namoi Valley Independent following statements by koala researchers that the “Koala Capital of the World’s” koala population was shrinking due to habitat loss and global warming.
