The Cootamundra electorate’s cutest residents have been the centre of celebrations in Narrandera, with the town’s annual Koala Festival proving to be an ongoing success.
Organised by the team at Narrandera Tourism, the weekend was packed with outdoor activities highlighting some of the region’s most spectacular natural assets.
Nationals Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke attended Saturday’s official opening, alongside Narrandera Mayor Neville Kschenka and Councillor Braden Lyons.
“There is so much happening in the Cootamundra electorate this Spring, and the Koala Festival is certainly up there as one of the ‘must not miss’ events,” Ms Cooke said.
“On any given day, Narrandera is an incredible place to explore, but the Koala Festival gives visitors the added incentive to pay a visit and for the community to come together.”
“This event is great for the local tourism economy, and it’s an opportunity for us to celebrate one of the region’s greatest environmental achievements.”
In the 1970s, a colony of 23 koala was moved to the Narrandera Nature Reserve in a trailblazing effort to boost the state’s koala population.
Since then, Narrandera’s Koala Regeneration Committee’s ongoing dedication has seen the colony grow to over 300 individuals, making one of Australia’s longest-running conservation projects one of its greatest success stories.
“This community absolutely treasures the nature reserve,” Ms Cooke said.
“It has given this Australian icon a safe home, and in turn, Narrandera has benefited by becoming a recognised destination where free-ranging koalas can be encountered in their natural habitat.”
Attracting both locals and visitors to participate, Sunday’s koala count will help researchers verify the actual number of koalas that call the nature reserve home and assist with ongoing conservation efforts.
