Koala sightings could soon become much more common in the Coffs Harbour area thanks to an initiative that will provide a new home for the furry Aussie icon.

Ground has been prepared for about 5000 koala habitat trees to be planted in areas around the Coffs Harbour bypass, and planting is about 90 per cent complete.

A total of about eight hectares have been prepared and planted in areas starting around Mackays Road, Roberts Hill and Bruxner Park to West Korora Road.

Work has also been carried out to restore habitat in areas where land was cleared before construction started, and to re-establish koala movement corridors.  

The project team will also install nine kilometres of fauna exclusion fencing on each side of the highway, build 15 fauna connectivity structures under the alignment and a set of glider poles for overhead passage, to help native fauna movement east and west of the bypass. 

Transport for NSW Secretary, Josh Murray, said the best way to lift koala numbers was to provide them with safe places to live, feed and breed.

“We’re making an enormous effort during construction of the bypass to provide important habitat linkages for a range of native flora and fauna that occur in the Coffs Harbour area,” Mr Murray said.

“And we’re making a special effort to provide the right environment for koalas in these important wildlife corridor areas.

“The land has been prepared and, over the next 15 to18 months, we’ll be planting thousands of habitat trees to provide food and shelter for these iconic marsupials.”

Mr Murray said Transport for NSW was working with a local plant nursery for the tube stock supply.

“It’ll take about eight to ten years before trees are large enough to support koalas; however, we’ve prepared the land well and are confident the mix of local koala food trees will thrive in this environment,” he said.

“We made some refinements during the detailed design phase of the bypass and, as a result, were able to provide at least an additional four hectares of land for habitat that’s suitable for koalas and other native species.

“It’s a great outcome for the species and for Coffs Harbour.”

The bypass team will plant in excess of 50,000 trees in areas around the route as well as securing more than 300 hectares of native vegetation as part of the project’s biodiversity offset properties, improving the environment for all flora and fauna.