Council is preparing a series of Species Management Plans. Two have already been adopted - for the Scrub Turpentine and for the Myotis.

The Squirrel Glider Species Management Plan (SMP) has been developed to help ensure our local bushland will continue to support this threatened species. The Squirrel Glider is nocturnal, prefers to live in tree hollows and stays off the ground by gliding between trees using a special skin membrane. The Squirrel Glider is threatened with extinction in NSW, mainly because much of the original bushland areas where the species lived has been cleared. On the Central Coast, the Squirrel Glider faces pressure from urban development including clearing of habitat and predation by domestic cats.

Over the last five years Council has undertaken several specialised studies to better understand where the Squirrel Glider occurs on the Central Coast and their habitat requirements. The results of these studies are summarised in the SMP, including identification of areas of suitable habitat. Areas in the Tuggerah Lakes catchment and around Lake Macquarie have been identified of high importance for the species. The SMP details how the Squirrel Glider habitat is to be considered during land use planning and development assessment. In addition, 10 recovery actions are provided which aim to ensure development impacts on the species are properly assessed and consistent outcomes are achieved that allow the species to recover on the Central Coast.

The SMP, once adopted, will provide a consistent approach to the protection and management of squirrel gliders, thereby streamlining the approval process.