The NSW Government is making an effort to keep koalas safe on busy Sydney roads, rolling out new fauna fencing, warning signs and escape routes at known hotspots.
With breeding season underway, koalas are on the move and more vulnerable to vehicle strikes.
Interim fencing along 700 metres of Appin Road and a planned underpass at Ousedale Creek are set to reduce roadkill in the Campbelltown region.
Further south, 3.5 kilometres of new fencing is being added along Picton Road at Cataract, closing a critical gap with $6.3 million in Safer Roads funding.
Welcoming the progress State Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said, “This is another step in the right direction when it comes to koala protection in our region, and I would like to thank the community for providing their valuable feedback.”
Meanwhile, on Heathcote Road, a $1.9 million project is installing over a kilometre of 1.5-metre-high fencing around Deadmans Creek, complete with “koala grids,” escape hatches and improved access under bridges.
“Vehicle strikes are both a tragedy for our threatened wildlife and a safety hazard for motorists… Koalas live with us in our suburbs and bring nature into our lives. We have an obligation to protect them and to act as good neighbours,” Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said.
These fences, grids, and crossings may well be the difference between life and death for Sydney’s most iconic locals.
