Great prizes to be won in ‘Name the koala joey’ competition

South-east Queensland residents have been invited to enter Redland City Council’s ‘Name the koala joey’ competition.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council launched the competition to find names for the joeys of ambassador koalas currently living in and around Birkdale Community Precinct.

“Birkdale Community Precinct is one of our important sentinel sites for koalas on Redlands Coast,” Cr Williams said.

“The eight ambassador koalas tracked and tagged within Birkdale Community Precinct contribute to Council’s understanding of koala movement and behaviour in an urban setting, and the better we understand that behaviour, the better our ability to improve conservation outcomes,” she said.

“We are fortunate to have some adorable koala joeys nearing their first birthdays, a time when joeys typically leave their mothers and find their home range.

“Naming the joeys helps with tracking family lines, creating a family tree and understanding the genetic history of each generation of koalas.

“These joeys – like the one released onto the site with its mother Jazza earlier this year – are true locals, born and raised on Redlands Coast, and we want south-east Queensland residents to give us suggestions for what to name them.

“Some great prizes are up for grabs, including tickets to a ‘Koalas in the Wild’ walk, double passes to a family theatre production at Redland Performing Arts Centre in 2024, and IndigiScapes gift vouchers.

“With the school holidays coming up, we’re asking our young people to express their creativity in coming up with some innovative names they think will best suit these important new members of the Redlands Coast koala family.”

Cr Williams said the koala joey naming competition was part of Council’s community engagement program to create awareness of koalas in urban areas.

“The Redlands Coast Koala Conservation Plan and Action Plan 2022-2027 outlines the extensive work undertaken by Council, our research partners, conservation groups and the community to continue protecting our koalas into the future,” she said.

“Increasing community connection through the koala joey naming competition is one example of how we can involve our community in this important work.”

Cr Williams said naming the joeys was an important part of the research program in place for koalas living in and around the Birkdale Community Precinct.

“Redlands Coast is home to one of the most significant urban koala populations in Australia and, just like in other places around the country, disease is one of our key concerns for this precious native animal,” Cr Williams said.

“Every two weeks the Detection Dogs for Conservation from the University of the Sunshine Coast track and check on the health of each ambassador koala living in and around the Birkdale Community Precinct.

“These regular health checks enable the chance to pick up and treat any illness or injury quickly, giving the best chance at a positive outcome for that koala.

“The work being done here goes further, contributing to a knowledge base that will help all koalas.”

The 62-hectare Birkdale Community Precinct – designed for and by the Redlands Coast community – will feature seven hubs:

• Cultural Hub – a meeting point and launching pad for all the precinct offers.
• Willards Farm Food Hub – a celebration of farming heritage with a restored Willards Farmhouse, classic Victorian garden and space for outdoor food markets, restaurant, café and cooking school.
• Innovation Hub – an exhibition space showcasing the future of farm methodologies and techniques, agricultural technology and food production.
• Entertainment Hub – multiple outdoor spaces for local performers and touring artists as well as BBQs, picnic areas, oversized games and outdoor movies.
• Communications Hub – memorial and contemplation space paying homage to war and peace-keeping services, anchored by the former US Army-built World War II Radio Receiving Station.
• Recreation, Resilience and Adventure Sports Hub – Redlands Coast’s first public lagoon, whitewater centre as well as an adventure playground and running track.
• Conservation Hub – 2.8km of walking trails, interactive tours, wilderness experiences and enhanced koala habitat.

How to enter the competition: Complete and submit your competition form by Friday 2 February, 2024, to be in the running to win some great prizes. Competition forms are available on the Birkdale Community Precinct Your Say page or request a form from one of the friendly staff at our Redland City Council libraries, customer service centres, the Redland Performing Arts Centre or Redlands IndigiScapes Centre.