"An ecological crisis of this magnitude requires an emergency response," Cr Jenvey said. "Further logging and degrading of habitat when forest ecosystems are so vulnerable, and in need of repair, represents poor stewardship of our natural assets."

Members of the public, Georgette Allen and John Bennett, both spoke passionately in favour of the motion before it was put to Council to discuss.

"There is a huge need to protect unburnt areas of habitat. State Forests in this region have become refuges for wildlife and are now an important reservoir of koala genetics on the East Coast," Mr Bennett said.

"Port Macquarie Koala Hospital via GoFundMe wanted to raise $25,000 during the bushfires. To date they have raised over $7-and-a-half million. This is surely proof that koalas matter greatly to people, and if you save the iconic koalas, you save habitat supporting many other endangered species of fauna and flora."

The issue stoked a robust discussion between councillors with arguments being parried across the floor.

Cr Janine Reed said she was unwilling to support the motion without more information about the repercussions of a moratorium on logging, and put forward an amendment that Council write to Forestry Corporation, and the NSW Environment Minister before making any decisions.

Cr Jenvey objected, saying it was important to start listening to the voices of independent scientists in this debate: "It's too critical to leave it up to self interests and political motivations".

Cr John Ainsworth cautioned about letting emotions dictate policy.

"I've heard a lot of wild and varying figures here. We're trying to find a little more about the impact of shutting down an entire industry before we go and throw people on the scrap heap," he said.

Cr Anne Smyth said she was in two minds about supporting the amendment.

"There's a petition attached to the original motion, with all those signatures collected in one day, representing a significant number of the views of our residents," she said.

She also questioned whether a moratorium on logging in State Forests would impact the timber industry greatly given a majority of sawn timber was grown in plantations.

"From what I understand, a lot of plantation timber was also burnt," Cr Rhonda Hoban said.

She said she understood the need for immediate action, however, she wanted to hear from both the environment minister and shadow minister before making a decision which could impact an industry.

"And I don't want to create a flow-on effect - where a moratorium to protect koalas here means an orangutan loses its home somewhere else," she said.

Cr David Jones said for him it came down to a question of how much the forests are able to support.

"I know we all want jobs and growth, but we need it in a meaningful and sustainable way," he said.

And Cr Martin Ballangarry said he was astounded that the situation had come to this at all: "I can't understand why there haven't been restrictions put in place yet - we live in such a fragile environment".

Cr Hoban had the final say before votes were cast, asking: "How many people in this room are going home to a house with a timber frame? Until consumption changes, resources will still need to be found somewhere."

The amendment was passed with Cr Hoban using her casting vote, and the new motion was carried with Crs Ainsworth, Reed, Wilson, Hoban and Jones voting in favour.

John Bennett was disappointed with the result which he views as a delay on meaningful action.

"As I mentioned in my address to Council, I have been working very hard to organise Council's Koala Action Day (May 2), I wonder what is the point if their habitat has been destroyed," he said.

"Our coast has become known worldwide as a 'deforestation front' in a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature. There is no longer any time to sit on the fence. It is time that this Council joined neighbouring councils and did something to help prevent the extinction of koalas and the ongoing diminishing biodiversity of this beautiful region."

Guardian News has approached Forestry Corporation for comment.

There are still no solid estimates on the numbers of native animals impacted by these fires, but these are some statistics published by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment:

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