Koalas at the coal-face

Pacific Coal and UQ have announced a $400,000 research and management program for an important population of koalas in central Queensland.

The Koala Venture program at the Blair Athol Coal mine in the Bowen Basin, 240 kilometres south-west of Mackay, will use state-of-the-art technology in wildlife management and monitoring strategies to promote innovative sustainable land-use.

Pacific Coal's Managing Director Brian Horwood said Koala Venture highlighted how a partnership between a research group and large-scale industry could manage and help to preserve an important national icon, adding to Australia's knowledge of koalas.

"We wanted a high degree of certainty that the money we invest in the environmental aspects of the operation would be well-spent," Mr Horwood said.

"Koala Venture will provide key information which will help lead to carefully planned clearing and re-vegetation strategies."

UQ's Koala Study Program has been a leader in koala research for nearly 25 years.

UQ's Koala Study Program Chief Investigator Dr Frank Carrick said the program was renowned for its work in key areas of koala biology, including reproduction, health and disease, molecular genetics and applied ecology.

"We are applying a wide range of technologies including radio telemetry and satellite navigation through to DNA analysis," Dr Carrick said.

Blair Athol Coal's Environmental Office Andrew Pearce said these new techniques were helping the mine to preserve both the land on which it operates and the fauna which inhabits that land.

"This research has already led to the development of novel koala management techniques at Blair Athol," Mr Pearce said.

Pacific Coal and UQ have already been collaborating on koala research for more than 10 years.

The signing of an agreement in which Pacific Coal will provide $225,000 in direct funding and $165,000 in logistical support at the mine over three years is a landmark development in this long-term relationship. It takes Pacific Coal's support for koala research well over the $1 million mark.

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