They're the new kids on the block in the koala protection game, but they're already making some big waves.
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Save Port Stephens Koalas was set up just a few months ago to lobby against the proposed expansion of the Hanson quarry at Brandy Hill.
They've already caught the attention of some big celebrities - Marcia Hines, Jimmy Barnes, Magda Szubanski, K.D. Lang and Olivia Newton-John just to name a few.
But more importantly they have also put themselves on the radar of Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley who has twice delayed her decision on the project, at least partly due to the group's campaign.
Campaign manager Victoria Jack had just come back from working overseas when she heard the NSW Government had approved the project, with their federal counterparts to have final say due to the significant impact the expansion would have on a matter of national environmental significance.
Dr Jack joined with Chantal Parslow Redman to create a 30 day campaign urging the government to reject the project. A few other volunteers then came on board to help.
"We thought we have this one chance left," Dr Jack said. "This is a critical moment in time for koalas.
"Following the Black Saturday bushfires the situation has changed dramatically.
"We've lost so many koalas and so much koala habitat."
The group crowdfunded to commission an independent report on the koala population and habitat around the quarry site, which found there were mating koalas in the nearby area and the site was prime habitat for the marsupial.
They also urged their followers to contact the minister asking her to reject the proposal.
Dr Jack said the group's posts had attracted support from people both locally and all over the world.
"People post the flag emoji of where they're from," she said. "It just shows you how much love there is for the koala."
Dr Jack said she was thrilled with how successful the campaign had been so far, and while she was conscious it was an uphill battle, she believed this could be a turning point.
"There has been 6500 decisions considered under this Act, and only 22 have been rejected," she said.
"The odds are very much against us.
"While we really want the decision to go our way, we know we have done really important work.
"People are really aware of the plight of koalas in NSW. We've had so much traction it feels like we can't let it go. The threat to koalas isn't going away.
"We'll wait and see the decision and decide how to proceed from here."
Ms Ley is due to hand down her decision on October 30.
Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
