“What we’re really focusing on now is taking that concept design and drawing up some architectural plans so we can have it costed and be ready to proceed with a development application,” the council’s property services manager Glenn Bunny said.

The council’s general manager Wayne Wallis was involved in a meeting at Parliament House last month with the Hunter Koala Preservation Society and various government departments.

This was quickly followed up with the first working group meeting under the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Newcastle last week that included departmental representatives from the tourism and environmental portfolios.

“We were really able to bring them up to speed on where we’re at,” Mr Bunny said.

“When we showed them the numbers from the koala surveys they realised just how serious it is. Everyone see the need and agrees a multi-purpose facility is a fantastic solution.” 

Mr Bunny said until it’s costed his estimate for the hospital, which would include tourist information and outdoor rehabilitation pens, would cost up to $3 million.

He’s hopeful the project will attract joint funding from various government departments and the corporate sector.

“We’ll be asking architects to submit some detailed plans soon,” Mr Bunny said.

“This facility needs to be of the highest standard if we are to promote this to tourists in Europe, America and Asia.

“We’re branding this as koalas 2050 – I’ve got kids and I want their kids to be able to see koalas too.”

HKPS vice president Ron Land said a breeding facility had been incorporated into the wishlist during the course of the Koala Crossroads campaign.

“We need a facility where we can immediately start a breeding program with diverse genetics,” he said.

“It’s something our attention has been turned to in a serious way – a project within a project – we need to work closely with partner universities on.

“If we don’t build this we won’t have a koala population here in Port Stephens.”