A group taking part in a joint survey found fresh koala scats, believed to be less than two weeks old, on Aboriginal owned land to the west of The Crossing Land Education Centre last Wednesday.

The Crossing project director Dean Turner said male koalas could travel up to 50 kilometres in search of mating partners with females inhabiting a four-hectare territory. “We found a site that was full of scat and they are fresh, so there are koalas actively using that area which is on the south side of the Bermagui River,” Mr Turner said.

One of the sites found is believed to be part of a female’s territory.

“There is a female based permanently there, and what we are looking for is other territories on the north side,” Mr Turner said

Concerns have been raised that logging operations are in close proximity to the territories of threatened koalas.

The survey program is a joint project between National Parks, The Crossing Land Education Centre, Bournda Environment Education Centre (EEC) and Aboriginal students from Bega and Eden.

Extensive surveys will be performed on either side of current logging sites at the Bermagui State Forest.

Lyn Thomas from the Bournda EEC was pleased see the evidence of koala habitation recorded.

“It was fantastic and really good to see these koala scats in the bush because it means so much” Ms Thomas said.

Students who took part in the survey expressed disappointment in the logging operations.

When asked what they thought young Jasmin Thomas said “I don’t like it, ” and Jayarna Slater said “its not good.”

Both Jasmin and Jayarna agreed the discovery of evidence should lead to protection for the area.