Port Stephens Koalas, an organisation that provides care to sick, injured and orphaned koalas, has just received a Community Building Partnerships grant worth $124,000.

The funds will enable stage one of the koala hospital and rehabilitation centre to be completed.

“This grant is fantastic news. As an organisation, we have the skills, we have the people, but we don’t have the facilities,” said Ron Land, Port Stephens Koalas secretary. 

“This grant will go a long way to helping us achieve our hospital plans. Stage one is happening because of Kate Washington and this grant,” he said.

The koala hospital project has two stages to implement. Stage one will see six rehabilitation yards built, along with a small accommodation unit. Stage two will see the construction of the state-of-the-art hospital, as well as an education centre. A further $800,000 is needed for stage two to get underway.

It comes after the Examiner launched campaign earlier this year to raise awareness of the plight of the Port koala population in the form of “Koala Crossroads”.

“There is nothing more important to stop the extinction of koalas. The work Port Stephens Koalas do is just so important, and to back them a little bit, it’s the least we could do,” Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said. 

Rough estimates gauge the Port Stephens koala population to be between 125 to 150. Five years ago there were around 1200.

“Just last week, we lost five koalas, due to car crash injuries, illness, loss of habitat. We don’t have time to muck around. The koalas of Port Stephens are in big trouble,” Mr Land said.

“And when they’re gone, they’re gone,” he added.

“Our local member Kate Washington has delivered, and Port Stephens Council has been supportive of the hospital project, so it’s time for the state government to step up,” he said. 

Ms Washington agrees. “There has been a lot of rhetoric from the government about trying to protect this species, but there has been no action from them,” she said. 

Port Stephens Council has provided crown land as the site for the hospital, which will be a world class centre for koala care, education and research. 

The aim of Port Stephens Koalas, the group formerly known as Hunter Koala Preservation Society, is to have stage one built by March 2017.

“The hospital is going to allow us to give the koalas the best chance of survival,” Mr Land said.

“And the koalas of Port Stephens need as much help as possible,” he said.