Koala at Thunder Point prompts renewed plea for more green corridors

Tracey Wilson, who runs Mosswood Wildlife Clinic, said wildlife habitat on the fringes of the city was disappearing and green corridors within the CBD were "very limited" or partially removed.

"More and more koalas are being displaced," she said.

She said koalas had recently been rescued from outside commercial businesses in the CBD, including the Warrnambool City Council offices and 3YB radio in Timor Street.

Five wallabies were killed in less than 10 days on the stretch of road between Kmart and the entrance to the city, and another mauled by a dog at Northern Edge Estate, near Wangoom Road.

More recently, a koala was found clutching a wooden beam at Thunder Point.

"That was a difficult rescue as the koala had climbed up above thick, scrubby bush," Ms Wilson said.

"When you have a koala that's somehow travelled all the way to Thunder Point, you have an issue."

Ms Wilson said a koala was located behind Apco service station late Monday.

She said it was not uncommon for sightings in that area, with four koalas hit and killed in four years near Mr Magic Car Wash on Raglan Parade, one of which had a little joey.

Ms Wilson said in many cases it was the same koalas getting in trouble.

"We ear-tag the ones that come into our care so we can follow their progress and they're the same ones coming back after a couple of weeks' time," she said.

"The time and agony spent on trying to figure out where to put these animals is just ridiculous."

Ms Wilson said Warrnambool City Council's Green Plan, which was adopted in September 2018, made no mention of koalas.

It's an issue she has repeatedly raised in the community, stating that without green corridors, wildlife will be left to die.

Now, she is hoping Warrnambool's new councillors will rethink their roadmap for creating an environmentally sustainable and resilient future.

"More consideration should be given to preserving or creating green connections as the city grows," Ms Wilson said.

"If the city would prefer to go in the direction of no wildlife in Warrnambool then that's OK but they need to deal with these animals themselves instead of relying on volunteers to do it.

"Volunteers are being left to pick up the pieces and we're just really tired."

Yarra Ranges' Donna Fairweather, who was holidaying in Warrnambool when she spotted the koala at Thunder Point, said she understood the importance of protecting local wildlife.

"I was walking when I spotted the little koala face sticking up through the scrub and the first thing I thought was 'there's no trees or habitat around'," she said.

"There wasn't a single eucalyptus tree in sight so I rang Wildlife Victoria and they contacted Tracey Wilson. I didn't want to leave so waited a couple of hours until a volunteer could arrive (to rescue the critter).

"The dear little thing just kept climbing up and down this pole. Being on top of a cliff face obviously wasn't the best place to be."

Ms Fairweather said she lived in a region with a lot of kangaroos, wombats, echidnas and wallabies.

"I think that's why I had that awareness or prior knowledge that the koala shouldn't be where it was," she said.

"Where I come from there is huge success in creating habitats and waterways to protect animals."

Ms Fairweather commended Mosswood Wildlife for their "terrific work".

"I was really pleased to help out in such a small way but I really wanted to give a big shout out to Tracey and her band of volunteers as I know that for people who volunteer in that space, their hard work often goes unrecognised."

Warrnambool City Council mayor Vicki Jellie and deputy mayor Richard Zeigler have been contacted for comment.

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