Lara Leahy
First published on Lismore App
There is a sign on Bruxner Highway between Lismore and Casino that says five koalas died in August at the corner of Tatham Road and the highway.
A koala fence is about to be installed at that spot to help prevent further koalas deaths.
Lismore City Council has hired contractors Ecoteam to install 1.5km of fencing along both sides of the Bruxner Highway, starting at Pelican Creek Bridge and including the intersection and 120m of Tatham Road.
There will be koala grids (similar to cattle grids) across three driveways
Several one-way escape poles will allow koalas that accidentally enter the roadside to escape.
Unfortunately, the design does not include dedicated under road tunnels for koalas to cross from one part of their territory to another safely.
Friends of the Koala regional koala officer Angie Brace from Kyogle said there is no simple, single solution for protecting the koalas, but this is a good start.
“Koala fences prevent koalas from crossing the busiest sections of roads,” Ms Brace said.
“It’s exciting that the koala fencing on this section of the Bruxner is back on track.
“Koalas move around predominantly at night, which makes it hard to see them on rural roads.
“As it is breeding season, there is more activity than normal, which heightens their threat—especially from June through to the end of December.”
The koala fence will protect the hotspot area, she said.
“They do move around over large home ranges. Two more koalas have been hit in the last 24 hours at McKees Hill and Parrots Nest, highlighting the importance of staying alert and slowing down, especially at dawn and dusk.”
Research shows that koalas range as far as they need to, depending on habitat, food availability and other colonies. A home range could be 5 hectares or up to 30 hectares for dominant males.
“As the Bruxner is a state road, changing the speed limit is not easy, and threat to wildlife is not a priority for dictating speed, even though it is a threat to drivers if they hit an animal,” Ms Brace said.
If you hit a koala or see one on the side of the road, call the Friends of the Koala Rescue hotline on 6622 1233.
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