The Urban koala tree trial is a collaborative research project between Council and the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), with assistance from the Queensland Government to deliver small growing gum trees, Eucalyptus kabiana (Mt Beerwah mallee) suitable for use in urban areas.
Eucalyptus kabiana are listed as Vulnerable under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and is endemic to the Glasshouse Mountains. Within their endemic range they usually grow to five metres high, rarely exceeding 10 metres as a small tree.
In 2016, USC provided Council with 95 Eucalyptus kabiana saplings to be planted across 20 reserves throughout the Moreton Bay Region. Since their establishment, Council has conducted annual monitoring of the Eucalyptus kabiana at the trial sites.
Some key observation from Council’s monitoring program include:
- Eucalyptus kabiana have exhibited two types of growth form, Mallee and Tree
- Some trees have exceeded the usual growth range for the species.