Ecology Projects

Sample of Recent Projects

The projects below are a selection of recent projects. This is not an exhaustive list, please contact us if a full list is required.
(Page last updated: Sept 2021)

Large-scale Koala motoring program
Location: South East Queensland.
Client: Litoria Consulting, 2021.
Purpose: Round 2 of Koala population monitoring at a regional scale, including non-invasive Koala genetic sampling and analysis. Total 255km of detection dog searches.
Location: South East Queensland.
Client: Brisbane City Council / Federation University Australia, 2021.

Koala Study
Purpose: Determine presence/absence of Koala and evaluate Koala activity levels on a site to inform impact assessment. Total 22km of detection dog searches.
Location: South East Queensland.
Client: Litoria Consulting, 2021.

Koala Study
Purpose: Determine presence/absence of Koala on a site to inform impact assessment. Total 12km of detection dog searches.
Location: South East Queensland.
Client: Litoria Consulting, 2021.

Baseline Koala assessment
Purpose: First round of Koala detection dog searches including non-invasive Koala genetic sampling and analysis on a Koala offset site. Total 33km of detection dog searches.
Location: South East Queensland.
Client: Lendlease, 2021.

Koala, Quoll and Underground Orchid survey
Purpose: Detailed assessment to determine Koala, Quoll and Underground Orchid presence/absence on a site. Total 47km of detection dog searches.
Location: Hunter region, New South Wales.
Client: RPS Group, 2021.

Koala and Quoll assessment
Purpose: Determine presence/absence of Koala and Quoll on a site the subject of an application for a proposed solar farm. Total 44km of detection dog searches.
Location: Fraser Coast region, Queensland.
Client: RPS Group, 2020.

Targeted Underground Orchid surveys
Purpose: Detailed targeted surveys in several National Parks for Underground Orchid detection. Total 77km of detection dog searches.
Location: New South Wales.
Client: NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, 2020.

Large-scale Koala motoring program
Purpose: Round 1 of Koala population monitoring at a regional scale, including non-invasive Koala genetic sampling and analysis. Total 191km of detection dog searches.
Location: South East Queensland.
Client: Brisbane City Council / Federation University Australia, 2020.

Port Stephens Koala genetics study
Purpose: Assess further sites and collect further Koala genetic material (scats) to finalise Koala population structure analysis in the region. Total 137km of detection dog searches. You may view and download the publicly available report by WWF-Australia here.
Location: Port Stephens Council LGA, New South Wales.
Client: WWF-Australia, 2020.

Koala assessment
Purpose: Rapid sampling of a 4,000ha property to determine Koala presence/absence, including non-invasive Koala genetic sampling. Total 13km of detection dog searches.
Location: Hunter region, New South Wales.
Client: NSW Government National Parks & Wildlife Service, 2020.

Underground Orchid field trials
Purpose: Field trials to confirm the success of the addition of a new Underground Orchid species (Rhizanthella speciosa) as a target to our dogs. See our media coverage for more info.
Location: Hunter region, New South Wales.
Client: NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, 2020.

Post-fire Koala assessments
Purpose: Assessment of multiple areas affected by bushfires between spring 2019 and autumn 2019. Where Koalas were found to have survived, where possible non-invasively Koala genetic sampling and analysis was performed. When operating in areas where fire was not yet extinguished, coordinate with wildlife rescuers on-site for the safe capture and assessment of fire-affected Koalas. See media coverage for some examples.
Location: Multiple locations in Eastern Australia.
Client: Some support provided by some organisations, 2019/2020.

Post-fire Koala study
Purpose: Assess two properties impacted twice during the by the 2019/2020 bushfire season, including non-invasive Koala genetic sampling and analysis. Total 96km of detection dog searches.
Location: Two large properties in South East Queensland.
Client: Turner Foundation, 2020.

Koala assessment
Purpose: Rapid sampling of an Energex offset property to determine Koala and Quoll presence/absence. Total 35km of detection dog searches.
Location: South East Queensland.
Client: Gondwana Ecology Group, 2020.

Koala and Quoll assessment
Purpose: Assessment of a 250ha property for Koala and Quoll presence/absence, including non-invasive Koala genetic sampling and analysis. Total 104km of detection dog searches.
Location: Central West and Orana region, New South Wales.
Client: EMM Consulting, 2019.

Koala study
Purpose: Rapid sampling of a 550ha property (total 43km assessed) proposed for development in a landscape where Koalas were previously thought to be absent or occur at low densities at best. Included non-invasive Koala genetic sampling and analysis. Total 43km of detection dog searches.
Location: Lower Hunter region, New South Wales.
Client: RPS Group, 2018.

Brisbane City Council LGA baseline Koala population study (part 2)

Purpose: Finalise the baseline assessment of Koala populations in Brisbane City Council LGA. Further fieldwork to collect more genetic samples non-invasively (DNA sourced from scats), identify and map genetically distinct populations and how the populations interact, identify genetic diversity of each population, identify disease status (C. pecorum and KoRV). Total 823km searched with the detection dogs in Brisbane City Council LGA. Genetic analyses performed by WildDNA/Federation University. Total 445km of detection dog searches. The publicly released version of the report may be accessed here: 2018 Brisbane City Council Koala Population Study

Location: Brisbane, South East Queensland.

Client: Brisbane City Council, 2018.

Rapid Quoll presence/absence assessment

Purpose: Determine Quoll presence/absence on a large military base. Total 21km of detection dog searches.
Location: Military base, undisclosed location.
Client: Australian Government Department of Defence, 2018.

Brisbane City Council LGA baseline Koala population study (part 1)

Purpose: Determine Koala distribution, activity and movement patterns at a fine-scale in order to inform key management responses to reduce Koala roadkill. Included non-invasive Koala genetic sampling and analysis (Koala genetic profiling, gender, detection of Chlamydia and KoRV; Koala population structure, genetic diversity, genetic corridors, migration rates etc). Total 378km of detection dog searches. The publicly released version of the report may be accessed here: 2017 Brisbane City Council Koala detection dog surveys

Location: Brisbane, South East Queensland.
Client: Brisbane City Council, 2017.

Mount Coot-Tha Koala assessment and monitoring

Purpose: Determine current Koala distribution, activity and movement patterns at fine-scale in order to assist in the impact assessment for the proposed zip line. Included collection and analysis of Koala scats for genetic profiling and health screening. Total 22km of detection dog searches.
Location: Mount Coot-Tha, South East Queensland.
Client: Brisbane City Council, 2017.

Koala distribution and movement assessment

Purpose: Determine current Koala distribution, activity and movement patterns at fine-scale in order to assist in Koala habitat management within an established air base.
Location: Australian Government Department of Defence Military base, undisclosed location.
Client: Australian Government Department of Defence, 2016.

Greenbank Quoll presence/absence assessment

Purpose: Determine Quoll presence/absence on a 480ha land.
Location: Greenbank, South East Queensland.
Client: Saunders Havill Group, 2016.

Central NSW Koala survey

Purpose: Confirm current Koala presence in The Pilliga, NSW.
Location: Pilliga, New South Wales
Client: Not-for-profit group, 2016.

Expert Witness services to the P&E Court

Purpose: Provision of Expert Witness services to the Queensland Planning & Environment Court for matters relating to Koalas and Koala ecology.
Court Case: Queensland P&E case No 2625 of 2015, Drywound Pty Ltd v Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Gordon Claridge & Ors.
Representing: Gordon Claridge & Ors, 2016 – 2017.

Ipswich Koala survey

Purpose: Determine Koala presence/absence on 2 private properties under assessment for potential acquisition for offset purposes.
Location: 2 properties in Ipswich City Council LGA, South East Queensland.
Client: Cherish The Environment Foundation, 2016.

Aroona Koala study

Purpose: Determine Koala presence/absence across a 2,000ha property donated to QTFN. Inform key areas to manage for habitat restoration and/or revegetation. Total 64 sampling sites assessed.
Location: Ipswich City Council & Lockyer Valley Regional Council LGAs, South East Queensland.
Client: Queensland Trust For Nature, 2016.

Bli Bli Koala survey

Purpose: Determine Koala presence/absence on lands adjacent to a proposed development.
Location: Bli Bli, South East Queensland.
Client: Native Foresters, 2016

Ipswich City Council LGA Koala activity study

Purpose: Determine relative Koala activity in 20 urban parks and inform management actions to ensure the resilience of the Koala in those areas. Total 62 sampling sites assessed. For more information refer to the Ipswich City Council’s environmental initiatives to support their Koala Conservation and Habitat Management Plan
Location: Ipswich City Council LGA, South East Queensland.
Client: Ipswich City Council, 2015.

Collection of Koala scats for DNA and Chlamydia analysis by WildDNA/Federation University

Purpose: Collection of scats from wild Koalas across SEQ, for DNA analysis by WildDNA/Federation University Australia (Victoria). Tests included genotyping (genetic diversity, population structure, relatedness and gene flow), gender identification and presence/absence of KoRV-A and Chlamydia pecorum .
Pro bono: for Logan City Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Community Action Inc. (community group), and Brisbane City Council. 2015.

NSW State Forests Koala survey

Purpose: Determine and qualify Koala presence across four State Forests in New South Wales. Total 41 sampling sites assessed.
Location: Multiple locations along the New South Wales coast.
Client: NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 2015.

Logan City Council LGA Koala survey

Purpose: Determine Koala presence/absence across a number of private properties and a selection of Council owned lands in the western portions of the LGA. Including reporting, ArcGIS mapping and management recommendations. Total 58 sampling sites assessed + 13 private properties searched in their entirety.
Location: Logan City Council LGA, South East Queensland.
Client: Logan City Council, 2015.

Ipswich City Council LGA Koala distribution study

Purpose: Determine Koala presence/absence across Council owned properties across the LGA. Including reporting, ArcGIS mapping and management recommendations. Total 155 sampling sites assessed.
Location: Ipswich City Council LGA, South East Queensland.
Client: Ipswich City Council, 2015.

Peak Crossing Koala survey

Purpose: Determine Koala presence/absence across a number of plots on a property owned by Queensland Trust for Nature (QTFN), assisted by the University of Queensland and volunteers.
Location: Peak Crossing, South East Queensland.
Client: QTFN, 2015.

Adare Koala survey

Purpose: Determine Koala presence/absence across 4 large rural properties.
Location: Lockyer Valley, South East Queensland.
Client: Lockyer Valley Community Action Group, 2015.

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