Frensham plans to clear 200 trees ploughs ahead.

The announcement comes as Southern Highlands environmental groups such as WinZero are fighting for the preservation of koala habitat in the face of encroaching developments. Mr West said the protection of habitats was an important issue in the Southern Highlands, particularly as more people seek to move to the area. He welcomed the announcement of the new protected areas as a step in the right direction and said it was “great news” for the shire. “This shire is in a very crucial position in terms of the Great Dividing Range, which is the major habitat corridor that runs down the east coast,” he said.

A proposal to clear 3.12 hectares of treasured Mount Gibraltar bushland has been met with fierce opposition by critics, who say the biodiversity nursery for koalas, endangered greater gliders and micro-bats could be destroyed. Environmental community organisation WinZero has been campaigning against the development on behalf of the protected inhabitants of the site – koalas, endangered greater gliders, and endangered micro-bats. In a statement on its website, WinZero said the clearing of 320 trees will interrupt a vital habitat corridor and cause erosion which would threaten the creek and those reliant upon it.