Damaged and inadequate fencing along a Bruce Highway blackspot is being blamed for the deaths of more Coast koalas, with one recent death unfolding into a horrific scene for onlookers.
Wildcare Australia’s Noosa and Sunshine Coast Region Koala Rescue Team reported a healthy young koala was struck by a car on the highway one night last month. It occurred in the northbound lanes about 1km before the Pomona turnoff.
Group volunteer and Wildcare rescue coordinator Scott Wilson said the koala was one of several killed this season on the stretch of road.
“Thank you to the couple who called this little girl in when they saw her still alive, and unfortunately could only watch as she was hit by a truck,” Mr Wilson said.
“What you saw was awful, but we appreciate you letting us know so that we can acknowledge and report her death in our efforts to help stop this carnage.”
Mr Wilson said the deaths were due to ongoing issues with the State Government’s koala exclusion fences, which needed to be fixed.
In 2021, the State Government promised $5 million in funding to maintain koala fencing across the North Coast region, stretching from Strathpine to Pomona and west to Esk.
“Regardless of peak times of koala activity, there will be less koala deaths and road trauma and risk to human life with people trying to save struck koalas if this exclusion fencing was better monitored and maintained,” Mr Wilson said.
A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said the department was committed to working with stakeholders to deliver effective fauna-protection measures.
“Our koala protection work is supported through a $5 million funding boost to maintain koala exclusion fencing,” the spokesperson said.
“Since October 2021, more than 80km of koala fencing has been maintained and repaired.
“Critical maintenance is ongoing, including fence and gap repairs, and creating a clear zone on either side to stop koalas climbing onto the road.”
Mr Wilson said that while the rescue group was grateful for the allocated funding, they were not seeing the benefits of it.
“We think it is largely more of a monitoring issue more than maintenance issues, so if a tree falls over the fence and is not seen for four to five weeks, that is naturally a spot they (koalas) will get over,” he said.
He said the exclusion fencing running along both sides of the highway between Cooroy and Traveston had design flaws which were causing koalas to get through.
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“Normally with each road hit we will check the fauna exclusion fencing in that area and we are consistently finding that that exclusion fencing has not been maintained,” Mr Wilson said.
“We’re asking for the installation flaws in the fencing that allows for gaps between the ground and the bottom of the fence to be rectified immediately; also an appropriate maintenance budget to be annually allocated for fence repair and surrounding vegetation management; as well as a fence monitoring program be budgeted for to allow for weekly fence inspections to actively manage areas where the fences’ effectiveness is compromised through tree falls, weather events or vandalism.”
He said the group continuing dialogue with the government was important.
“We are not asking for 250km of fencing to be continually monitored, but we know the areas they come through and we can narrow those right down quite specifically to certain areas for them,” he said.
“There are specific locations where previous habitat corridors existed that are now dissected by highway. Cooroy and Traveston/Cooran are the two of concern where we see continued incidents of koalas being hit and killed.”
Mr Wilson also pleaded for drivers to be extra vigilant and keep an eye out for koalas.
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The TMR spokesperson said fencing had been mapped and a routine inspection and maintenance program was in place.
“We have also developed innovative solutions, including pole stability improvements and rubber flap installation, to address challenges such as steep terrain, vandalism and storms,” they said.
“We regularly work with Wildcare Australia’s Noosa and Sunshine Coast Region Koala Rescue Team to understand activity levels on state-controlled roads.
“We met with a representative this week to discuss the forward program of maintenance. Their feedback indicated there had been fewer koala strikes this season. They also advised there had been a reduction in kangaroo and wallaby strikes where the fauna exclusion fencing was installed.
“We are also working collaboratively with Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and other stakeholders as part of the Koalas on the Move campaign to increase driver awareness of the breeding season.”
The spokesperson said TMR regularly communicated to motorists about driving with care around wildlife areas.
Mr Wilson said the trauma season for koalas should be over but a rise in activity was expected to continue for another month at least.
“Unfortunately, there was another koala death last week in the same spot,” he said.
“Breeding season is still in full swing and is normally between July and December, but we are experiencing a very busy January with koalas moving about and being hit by cars at these blackspots between Cooroy and Traveston.
“We are also seeing many more disease cases presenting.”
He said during the past year the group had recorded 27 koalas being hit by vehicles in the region between Nambour and Gympie.
Of these, 12 were on the Bruce Highway, including 10 between Cooroy and Traveston. Nine of these koalas died.
“This January we had nearly double January 2021’s rescue tally for the month, and we’ve had three hit and killed by cars,” he said.
Koalas hit by cars
- 2021 – 32 (22 deaths)
- 2022 – 27 (17 deaths)
Koala rescues
- 2022 – 174
- 2021 – 208
Mr Wilson said the rescues in 2022 were lower because of a quieter October and November due to colder weather and trees being healthier than previous years due to more rain. All other months were similar to 2021.
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