{"id":697540,"date":"2026-05-27T09:01:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/697540\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T09:01:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:01:16","slug":"koala-found-during-controversial-clearing-of-trees-at-ormiston-college-queensland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/697540\/","title":{"rendered":"Koala found during controversial clearing of trees at Ormiston College, Queensland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tree clearing has been abruptly halted at a prestigious Queensland<\/a> private school after the discovery of a koala in a tree that was marked to be cut down.<\/p>\n

The koala was spotted amid protests against the felling of trees to make way for playing fields, a pool and boarding houses at Ormiston College, in southeast Brisbane.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tensions have flared outside Ormiston College with heavy machinery threatening koala trees.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

The clearing has sparked major backlash among community members<\/a> and protesters who say the trees are protected koala habitat.<\/p>\n

An estimated 50 protesters lined the streets around the college as workers with heavy machinery began cutting and clearing trees on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Tensions were raised when a young male koala was photographed in a tree \u2014 which was marked for removal \u2014 by local wildlife group Wild in The Redlands.<\/p>\n

Former Greens candidate for Bowman Kristie Lockhart was arrested after allegedly crossing barriers to alert workers to the koala sighting.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe koala was spotted in a tree designated for removal. Credit: Wild in The Redlands \"WorkWork was halted once the koala was spotted. Credit: Queensland Koala Conservation Collective<\/p>\n

Footage from the site shows Lockart handcuffed and placed inside the back of a police van.<\/p>\n

She can be heard telling the camera: \u201cOrmiston College are koala killers.\u201d <\/p>\n

Work was halted after the sighting but 7NEWS understands it has resumed again on Wednesday after the area was checked for koalas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were concerned a koala was seen opposite the destruction area, in a zone being cleared the night before,\u201d Queensland Koala Conservation Collective said on social media on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were even more gutted to hear that … a koala was (seen) in distress from a chainsaw just a few metres away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe proposed development site at the school. Credit: Ormiston College<\/p>\n

The group thanked Lockhart for taking a stand and trying to help \u201cprevent further distress to the koala\u201d by asking the contractors to stop work.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing that she was arrested and, while technically that may be appropriate, in the circumstances it seems incredible that preventing suffering to an endangered animal \u2014 due to failures in legislation, policy design and delivery \u2014 is a crime,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we want to keep seeing our koalas, we must do better.\u201d<\/p>\n

The grounds around the college have been deemed a koala habitat and koala priority area by the Queensland Government, and fall within a habitat restoration area.<\/p>\n

Redlands City Council named Ormiston a koala-safe neighbourhood in 2018 and had knocked back previous development application from the college.<\/p>\n

However, last year the college put forward a Ministerial Infrastructure Development (MID) application with the state government, a step which effectively bypasses decisions made by local council.<\/p>\n

The development was given the go-ahead this month.<\/p>\n

The plans for the site include removing more than 600 trees to accommodate a new playing fields, an Olympic-size swimming pool and boarding houses.<\/p>\n

Queensland listed koalas as endangered in February 2022.<\/p>\n

\"ProtestersProtesters lined the street outside the college. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

Headmaster Michael Hornby had previously told 7NEWS.com.au<\/a> protecting and enhancing the entire local wildlife corridor is of critical importance to the college, however, the proposed plans were important to the school\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe master plan is about a long-term plan across the college. It incorporates not only sporting facilities but also education facilities, arts precincts,\u201d Hornby said at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis plan looks into the future for the maybe the next 20 years to 25 years and upgrades and the facilities we\u2019ll need over the course of that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hornby said the school had held \u201csignificant consultative processes\u201d where feedback was received from neighbours, the Koala Action Group, and Redland City Council.<\/p>\n

He said adjustments had been made to plans based on that feedback.<\/p>\n

\"IanIan Mazlin, whose son attended the college, is protesting the development. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

Ian Mazlin, whose son attended Ormiston College, was among those protesting against the tree felling at the school, calling the situation \u201cintensely heartbreaking\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was our son\u2019s second home for all those years,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought it was a great school, they gave him a great education, but what attracted us was it was set in such a beautiful setting and it had koalas. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they showed that they appreciated having the koalas, they made a big deal about them. I remember even when a single tree had to be removed it was quite a big deal.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, it seems the exact oposite is happening.\u201d <\/p>\n

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