Flood recovery information

Flooding from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has impacted many parts of the Kempsey Shire. Click to find updates on recovery information, safety advice and important resources to help those affected by the weather and flooding event.

Flood recovery information

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Koalas

Koalas are uniquely Australian and are much loved and iconic. The wild koala population in NSW is now at a critical point following the devastating impacts of the 2019-2020 bushfires. In February 2022, koalas in NSW as well as QLD and ACT, were officially considered an endangered species.

We all have a responsibility to ensure koalas survive into the future. This means maintaining koala habitat and reducing threats such as vehicle strikes, dog attacks and the removal of native vegetation.

In the Kempsey Shire, koalas were once common, featuring in local Indigenous law and legend. The place name Yarrahapinni comes from ‘yarra’, the Thunggutti/Dunghutti word for ‘koala’.

Our local koalas

A large portion of koala habitat in the Hastings-Macleay region is mapped as an Area of Regional Koala significance.

What we are doing

What Kempsey Shire Council are doing to help local koalas.

What you can do

What you can do as a landholder, pet owner and road user to help koalas.

Threats to our koalas

The biggest challenges for koalas in our region are habitat destruction, vehicle strikes and dog attacks.

How to help a sick or injured koala

What steps you can take to help a sick or injured koala.

Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management

To protect our koala populations, Kempsey Shire Council created the Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management.

How to report a koala sighting

You can report sightings or evidence of koalas through the I Spy Koala app or online form.

How to find koalas and report their location - click here to watch a video to help you know what to look for when looking for koalas, and the best way to record that information.

A guide for young citizen scientists looking for koalas: Join Lily and her dad on this video as they search for wild koalas in the Australian bush, with some top tips from Ranger Rebecca on how to find them. Learn about the I Spy Koala initiative and why recording koala sightings is so important for koala conservation in NSW.