Council will ramp up measures to help protect the City’s koalas after shocking new data reveals how many have been hit on Gold Coast roads.
There have been more than 13,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions reported in the last decade.
Koalas make up 12.5% of these collisions, meaning 1,625 koalas in total have been hit by a car between 2010 and 2020 on Gold Coast roads.
New measures to be explored to help reduce these figures include additional signage, new fauna fencing, vegetation management, speed humps, as well as koala grids and koala ladders.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says they will be put in place in several collision hot spots including Currumbin Waters and Currumbin Valley, Elanora, Tallebudgera and Burleigh Heads areas.
“We currently undertake a range of measures to reduce strikes such as fauna exclusion fencing, fauna underpasses, static wildlife signage, koala speed awareness devices, variable messaging signs as well as community education and awareness messaging,” Mayor Tate said.
“We will build on what we already do to hopefully reduce wildlife fatalities on City-controlled roads.”
Photo: Supplied
Major roads within the northern suburbs also pose a risk, with further hotspots in Parkwood, Arundel, Coombabah, and Helensvale.
The City will also explore a feasibility trial of a koala crossing at Napper Road.
“We’re sparing no expense to save our koala… We have left no stone unturned.
“We’ve got a great koala population and you want to hand that legacy to the next generation.”
Top 10 Worst Roads for Koala-Vehicle Collisions are:
1. Tallebudgera Connection Road (96)
2. Pacific Motorway at three locations (86)
3. Brisbane Road, Labrador (68)
4. Simpsons Road, Elanora (56)
5. Captain Cook Drive, Arundel (54)
6. Smith Street, Southport (47)
7. Guineas Creek Road, Elanora (43)
8. Galleon Way, Currumbin Waters (40)
9. Napper Road, Arundel (34)
10. Tallebudgera Creek Road, Tallebudgera (34)
Photo: Supplied
