What’s happening?
On 23 July, concern grew in Toowoomba after mature hollow‑bearing trees were cleared at the Walamere development site in Highfields without any wildlife spotters on site. Heavy machinery removed trees that local witnesses say are known habitat for native animals.
The Protect Trees Toowoomba campaign, part of the Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC), confirmed the clearing and raised alarm.
Why it matters
“These trees are not just plants. They are homes,” said campaign coordinator Ahri Tallon. “Removing them without proper care or oversight risks causing direct harm and death to vulnerable species.”
Tallon added, “Not having planning protections in place to preserve old‑growth trees is already a serious oversight. But allowing their removal without even requiring wildlife spotters to be on site is unacceptable.”
Local impact
No strict conditions requiring spotters had been imposed by Toowoomba Regional Council. Under the Nature Conservation Act, a fauna spotter catcher and a Species Management Plan are required when clearing hollow‑bearing trees. Although the site is not mapped as a formal koala habitat, koala occurrences have been recorded in the patch in recent months. In other developments and infrastructure projects, including some undertaken by TRC, a koala spotter has been required. This has raised questions about why no fauna spotter catcher was present during this clearing.
By the numbers
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Hollow‑bearing trees provide shelters for owls, possums, gliders and parrots.
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Koala occurrences have been recorded in the area within the last several months.
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Multiple hollow‑bearing trees were reportedly cleared during the operation.
Zoom in
The cleared trees were hollow‑bearing specimens that are vital shelters for wildlife. Concerns have been raised about the fate of any animals that may have been inside when the clearing took place. “It shows a reckless disregard for native fauna,” Tallon said.
Zoom out
Protect Trees Toowoomba is part of DDEC, which has long worked with member groups and community members to push for stronger tree protections. DDEC has called for a tree protection mechanism within the Toowoomba Regional Council planning scheme, noting TRC is the only local government area in South East Queensland without any form of tree protection. The group has raised awareness about large‑scale clearing through media releases, meetings and education campaigns. DDEC has also criticised modest fines issued by the Department of Environment and Science in cases of unlawful tree clearing and continues to advocate for stronger penalties and national environment law reform.
What to look for next?
The Protect Trees Toowoomba campaign is urging TRC to investigate whether spotter catchers were required and present. They want TRC to implement conditions requiring wildlife protections for all future developments involving mature or hollow‑bearing trees and to review protections for habitat trees across the region.
DDEC continues to invite the public to engage through its website, register to volunteer with the campaign, and learn more through its planning scheme recommendations and full reports on protecting significant trees.