Protecting koalas

We’ve reached a milestone in our protection and expansion of koala habitat in south-west Sydney. In June 2024, we planted 20,000 trees and shrubs at our initial project site, with another 20,000 planted in November 2024.

Over many decades, these 10 hectares of protected reserve will evolve from open paddock to open forest and woodland. To ensure that the future habitat can support koala populations, at least 30% of the trees planted are preferred local feed trees, such as grey gums.

As the trees and shrubs mature, they will increase the value and area of protected habitat for koalas in south-west Sydney.

We are installing koala protection fencing between koala habitats and providing safe koala crossings along Appin Road and other linear infrastructure to facilitate koala movement. As part of delivering the CPCP, the NSW Government is building 3 koala friendly crossings in Appin: at Kings Falls Bridge, Ousedale Creek and Upper Canal. The CPCP has also provided funding to install koala protection fencing at key locations.

View the koala protection measures map (PDF, 2.2 MB). 

Kings Falls Bridge

In 2022, we constructed the first koala friendly crossing, at Kings Falls Bridge on Appin Road. This crossing supports the north–south movement of koalas between Warranmadhaa National Park and koala habitat to the south. The crossing was modified in 2025 to make it more appealing for koalas and resilient to vandalism.

We also installed 750 metres of koala protection fencing at this site to keep koalas off Appin Road and lead them to the crossing. Work is continuing to extend the fencing north-west and south-east, on both sides of Appin Road. This fencing extension is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Installing fencing north of Kings Falls Bridge to the north–east side of Appin Village is challenging due to land tenure and site constraints, such as geography and underground utility corridors. Most of this section of road has a low 50km/hr speed limit and on the south–east side is separated from larger roads by suburban housing. Bionet data is regularly monitored to determine if additional fencing or other mitigation actions are needed. This section of road is marked as ‘observation area’ in this koala protection measures map (PDF, 2.2 MB).

Ousedale Creek

Together with Transport for NSW, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (the Department) will be constructing a koala friendly crossing under Appin Road near Brian Road.

In early 2023, Transport for NSW exhibited a review of environmental factors for the crossing and is currently completing a re-design to address feedback raised during the exhibition.

The Office of Strategic Lands has also begun the process of buying 4 properties at the site of the crossing, so we can build the koala crossing and restore the land with native plants to support a functional koala corridor. Two properties have been purchased so far.

Separate from the CPCP, 2 more koala crossings are being installed along Appin Road at Noorumba and Beulah, with koala protection fencing installed between Rosemeadow and Gilead. These projects are associated with the Gilead development.

To learn more about these projects, visit Transport for NSW Appin Road projects.

Upper Canal

WaterNSW, funded by the Department under the CPCP, has installed an over-pipe crossing and 4 under-fence crossings at the heritage-listed Upper Canal. This will support koala movement across the Upper Canal and in the Ousedale corridor. Construction was completed ahead of schedule, in July 2025.

The structures were built to allow koalas to move safely under existing boundary fences in 4 locations where evidence of animal usage, like tracks and droppings, was identified. A lightweight bridge was also engineered and installed over the pipeline, providing an alternate way for koalas and other wildlife to cross the Upper Canal.

Hume Highway, Wilton

With funding from the CPCP, Transport for NSW installed koala protection fencing along the Hume Highway at the Picton Road interchange, and south of Allen’s Creek bridge in Wilton. This project, which was completed in 2024, aims to keep koalas off the highway and guide them safely underneath bridges as they move between habitats.

In partnership with the NSW Koala Strategy, we have developed a 3-tiered program that will assess and monitor key koala outcomes from the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan.

Read the findings of 2023 koala monitoring (PDF, 130 KB).

Regional survey

We monitor koalas in south-west Sydney each year by acoustic survey and drones to establish where they are living and their relative abundance. The regional survey aligns with statewide monitoring under the NSW Koala Strategy. The survey will allow the south-west Sydney koala population to be directly compared with other koala populations across the state.

Disease monitoring

Every 2 years, we are monitoring the chlamydia status of Campbelltown–Wollondilly koalas. Surveys done in 2021 and 2023 confirmed that Campbelltown koalas remain chlamydia-free, but that chlamydia is present in the population south of Appin.

Population estimate

Each year, we are monitoring koalas in the Georges River Koala National Park to track koala densities and the number of koalas present in the reserve over time. The survey will take place every spring using song meters to listen to male koalas calling.

The CPCP has contributed funding to a range of projects that support the health and welfare of the koala population in south-west Sydney.

Monitoring of koalas released into the wild

Research by Science for Wildlife looked at koala survival after they have been in care to inform current protocols for releasing them. The project monitored 36 koalas for up to 12 months to see how they survived. This project has contributed to better carer procedures and koala release protocols. The CPCP funded the development of an app for wildlife carers that helps them find suitable feed trees for koalas in care.

Vaccine trial for Campbelltown koalas

A research trial led by University of Sydney vaccinated 53 koalas against chlamydia and monitored them over 12 months. While the vaccine produced an antibody effect, it was not 100% effective. Of the 53 koalas, 4 contracted the disease within 6 months of vaccination.

The trial concluded that vaccination alone may not give enough protection against chlamydia and other management actions may be necessary to prevent infection of the Campbelltown koala population.

Koala coordinator for south-west Sydney

In partnership with the NSW Koala Strategy and University of Sydney, the CPCP is funding a unique coordinator role at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital at Camden. The role will improve the record management on koala welfare and provide training and support for koala carers in south-west Sydney.