By LUKE VOOGT
Koalas could turn Lara into an international tourist destination, according to local tourism operators.
Echidna Walkabout’s Janine Duffy said increasing the koala population in the You Yangs was a priority for Lara.
“There’s absolutely no reason this town can’t stay small but become wealthy,” she said.
Ms Duffy presented her plan to a Lara tourism forum on Wednesday night.
About 100 people attended, including local tourism boss Roger Grant and Avalon Airport chief Justin Giddings, who backed Ms Duffy’s plan.
She called on property owners to plant trees near the You Yangs to increase local koala numbers.
The cost would be minimal, government grants were available and owners could potentially make money from tourists visiting their land, Ms Duffy said.
“Wouldn’t it be great if koalas were living in trees all over private property. Koalas need a home and it can’t hurt (for property owners) to get a thousand extra.”
Ms Duffy estimated that koalas contributed $3 billion to Australia’s $107.1b tourism industry.
“Seventy-two per cent of international tourists want to see koalas,” she said.
Ms Duffy cited the success of Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade as a model for Lara.
Tourism contributed an estimated $655 million to the island’s economy in 2013/2014, according to Tourism Victoria, with millions of visitors a year.
Ms Duffy said Lara’s shared Phillip Island’s tourism advantage of proximity to Melbourne.
“There are penguins all over north Tasmania but people don’t go to see them. Lara is only a 45-minute drive from Melbourne.”
But Lara’s declining koala population was an obstacle to developing the proposed tourism attraction, Ms Duffy said.
“The You Yangs isn’t large enough to support an increasing population or even a stable one. The You Yangs have about 100 koalas, which breed 10 joeys a year.”
Drought, decreased habitat and roads were holding back Lara’s koala population, Ms Duffy said.
“I suspect we’re killing more on the road than are breeding. I’ve seen three dead koalas on the road already this year.”
The only way to prevent more deaths was to control development near the You Yangs, Ms Duffy said.
“This area has got to stay quiet – people have got this idea that you can build right up to edge of a national park and everything will be fine. Housing only provides income for a little while but tourism provides income for the future.”
Ms Duffy identified Hovels Creek, Little River and Sandy Creek as priorities for more trees.
“We’re pro-predevelopment but we want the right sort. We need accommodation and cafes but we need it to be surrounded by nature.”
Mr Giddings welcomed the prospect of an international tourism drawcard close to the airport, which last week secured a bipartisan pre-election commitment to clear the way for overseas flights.
“Our big leverage is with inbound tourism,” he said.
“This area is a bit of a no-brainer for us, having ecotourism right on our doorstep.”
