By staff writer Mozza
Moreton Bay Regional Council is calling on the community to share their local knowledge to help keep kangaroos and wallabies safe on Bribie Island roads.
With wildlife-vehicle collisions involving macropods doubling in recent years on the island, Mayor Peter Flannery said further action had to be taken. As a result, new fauna rope bridges have been built to give native wildlife safer access between Bribie’s parks, reserves and corridors around First Avenue between Bongaree and Woorim.
“Council is looking to install additional green infrastructure at locations where we continue to see high wildlife-vehicle collisions,” Mayor Flannery said.
“Over the past 10 years, Council has received more than 300 community requests for the removal of deceased animals located on, or adjacent to, roads on Bribie Island.
“Sadly, more than two thirds of these collisions are relating to kangaroos and wallabies, with figures doubling from 24 collisions in 2018 to 54 collisions in 2019.
“We want to know if you have encountered a kangaroo or wallaby while driving on Bribie Island to add to our understanding of their movements and behaviour.
“But there is only so much we can do; we need drivers to slow down around wildlife areas and stay alert, especially as we see more kangaroos moving at dawn and dusk over winter.”
Division 1 Councillor Brooke Savige said feedback received will help identify priority locations where infrastructure is needed. More information on council’s initiative and a feedback link is available on the website, www.yoursay.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/kangaroos-wallabies-bribie-island .
“There is a range of green infrastructure that will be considered, from warning signs and road stencils to increased driver awareness, to fences, underpasses and rope bridges to discourage animals from crossing the road,” Cr Savige said.
“We would love the community’s help in identifying the best locations to install these safety measures, especially around well-known collision hotspots like White Patch Esplanade, Sunderland Drive and First Avenue.
“In fact, we are currently constructing two fauna crossings to create a safer passage for smaller wildlife over First Avenue and installing 400m of exclusion fencing, however it’s clear that more needs to be done”.
Fauna bridges allow native wildlife to move as they would from tree to tree to access nearby local ecosystems without having to dangerously scurry along the road. Unlike koalas that travel along the ground, animals like possums, sugar gliders and goannas prefer to travel along canopies. This corridor provides refuge, dispersal and breeding habitat for gliders, echidnas, wallabies and many others.
This is a great initiative by council, well done to all concerned.
