Up to 2000 koalas inhabit the area around Mount Sugarloaf, with other clusters of the iconic marsupial detected near Teralba, Killingworth and West Wallsend, a compilation of survey data reveals.
Latest data, including scat detections picked up by sniffer dogs during a Lake Macquarie City Council survey last year, suggests koalas are much more widespread in Lake Macquarie than many would imagine.
Council's Manager Environmental Systems Brendan Callander said koalas were using large tracts of native vegetation around Mount Sugarloaf, stretching across both sides of the Pacific Motorway and extending through to Teralba, West Wallsend and Fassifern.
"It's just amazing that this large and significant population was probably always there but not seen or recognised," he said.
"Only in the past 1-2 years has the potential size, density and distribution of koalas in this area been realised, because of the concentration of surveys and the effectiveness of recent survey techniques."
"The population is turning out to be much larger and more dense than expected, with 2000 individuals a fairly conservative estimate."
"The exact size, along with how far it extends, requires further investigation."
Over the past six years, koalas have also been recorded as far afield in Lake Macquarie as Bolton Point, Morisset, Wyee, Barnsley and Cameron Park.
Historically, surveys have relied on ecologists visually searching for koalas or their droppings, also known as scats.
But sniffer dogs, like those Council engaged last year, together with aerial drones, makes surveys much more effective and reliable.
Council has commissioned further surveys to take place in coming months, using drones equipped with thermal cameras that can detect a koala's body heat in the tree canopy.
"We will be looking in areas where koala habitat and food trees have been mapped, but there aren't a lot of actual koala records. These areas include Awaba and Wyee," Mr Callander said.
"This is important work, not only to get a better understanding of our local koalas, but to ensure our planning and land zonings consider and accommodate this population as our city continues to grow."
Drone surveys are expected to begin next month and continue through August.
