Numerous Gunnedah residents argue koalas and coal can co-exist without any issues.
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Locals took to Facebook after the Namoi Valley Independent spoke to Australian Koala Foundation president Deborah Tabart OAM, who believes mining is detrimental to the future of koalas in the shire.
There was a mixed reaction from Facebook users, but many disagreed with Ms Tabart's comments.
"I think the people of Gunnedah do a great job in looking after koalas. We need mining for jobs and that is what has kept our town afloat during this dreadful drought," Marie Hobson wrote.
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Michael Bianchino and Robyn Norman did not agree with Mrs Hobson's comment, with Ms Norman writing her statement was "a sham".
"Shenhua's plan to move koalas from their natural habitat to build a coal mine isn't looking after them. Gunnedah certainly isn't the koala capital of the world," she wrote.
Andrew Worthington wrote Gunnedah could have both koalas and mining.
"There's been coal mining in the Gunnedah area for nearly 140 years and there's still koalas - maybe, just maybe, you can have both, not either or. Just needs some thinking," Mr Worthington wrote.
Others took to emails to express their opinion, with George Avard writing that Ms Tabart's views were a "load of garbage".
"If she were to do her homework then those who have local knowledge would be able to explain that the five biggest colonies of koalas over decades have been Blackjack Forest, Porcupine Reserve, Milroy Forest, Marys Mount and Breeza Forest areas. None of which are near coal mines," Mr Avard wrote.
"Having lived adjacent to the Porcupine Reserve for 70 years there has been a gradual depletion of numbers but to blame coal mining, hard-hoofed animals and the fact we have not got healthy rivers and billabongs is an absurdity.
"Does she live in the real world and realise that we are experiencing possibly the worst drought on record?"