Per our January 2024 Noosa 360 Update, Sandy commissioned local wildlife ecologist Dr Elizabeth Brunton to complete a study on wildlife strikes. The project’s main aim was to map key road-kill hotspots and provide baseline information and recommendations for best-practice mitigation methods. Since the completion of this report, we have provided a copy to both the Department of Transport and Main Road (TMR), as well to Noosa Council to inform the management of State and local roads.

The following is a response we recently received from TMR regarding:

Thank you for providing TMR’s North Coast Region with a copy of the report and recommendations from the Noosa wildlife-vehicle injuries investigation (2021-2023) you commissioned.

The conservation and protection of native fauna is important to TMR and an important issue for the community. Our Environment, Culture and Heritage team have reviewed the report with interest, and we anticipate it will be useful for establishing baseline data for the region, and for future TMR business cases and other initiatives.

As you are aware, we have implemented a number of measures across state-controlled roads that are designed to mitigate traffic impacts on native fauna and as outlined below, we will look at recommendations from the report that can be implemented for the region, subject to funding availability.

Virtual fencing
In relation to the installation of wildlife infrastructure, TMR’s funding for nature conservation is allocated based on projects that present a significant threat to threatened fauna.

Matters relating to virtual fencing are referenced in Chapter 6, section 19.2, of TMR’s recently updated Fauna Sensitive Road Design Manual. The manual states there are few scientific trials in Australia of systems such as virtual fencing, and those that have been conducted report variable results, with only one result obtaining substantial success. As stated within the manual, prior to the installation of technologies such as this, TMR requires results from research that is scientifically rigorous and based on well-designed trials to support the effectiveness of virtual fencing.

With this in mind, TMR is currently in discussions with wildlife researchers and ecology experts to understand the effectiveness of virtual fencing technologies which, if deemed an effective option for state-controlled roads, will be considered for trials within our region.

Exclusion fencing
TMR’s koala protection work has been boosted by $5 million in Queensland Government funding to maintain koala fencing in the North Coast Region. This has enabled increased frequency of monitoring and more maintenance to be undertaken on koala exclusion fences in priority areas to help protect koalas from vehicle strikes. A vegetation and fence maintenance program is being implemented in the North Coast Region to ensure exclusion measures continue to operate effectively.

South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy
TMR is supporting the Department of Environment, Science, and Innovation (DESI) and the commitment to community education across the whole region as part of the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020–2025. Our current initiative involves the use of ‘Drive With Care. ‘Look Out For Koalas’ messaging on 29 selected static TMR variable message boards across several regions in South East Queensland. In the North Coast Region, this message is being displayed at available times at ten locations on the Bruce Highway during breeding season.

Wildlife hotspots
TMR is looking at wildlife hotspots across North Coast Region and will consider data from the report amongst other sources, to understand where the issues are for prioritisation of treatment measures.

As you know, TMR is again supporting the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation’s ‘Koalas on the Move’ campaign this year with the placement of Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) on McKinnon Drive and Cooroy–Noosa Road. These VMS are expected to be installed shortly and will remain in place until January 2025 with the aim to increase motorists’ awareness of potential koala movements during koala breeding season. As part of this campaign, TMR is posting koala awareness content on its social media channels, encouraging motorists to drive with care around wildlife areas.

Additionally, VMS have been placed on Yurol Forest Drive, which borders important habitat areas in response to koala strikes which occurred early in the breeding season. A speed limit review is also underway on this road.

Three Biosphere Reserves koala collaboration
TMR attends the recently established Three Biosphere Reserve Collaboration Workshops which take place quarterly. These bring together organisations, community groups and individuals who are working towards koala conservation in the Great Sandy, Noosa, and Sunshine Coast Biosphere Reserves. TMR is supportive of this initiative to work together to improve outcomes for koalas and other native wildlife in the region.

Data sharing
TMR has long acknowledged the efficacy of a centralised database of wildlife data and the need to collaborate with stakeholders across the region, and we understand our colleagues at the DESI are looking to establish such a database.

Whilst Sandy appreciates this response from TMR, she looks forward to seeing further action on these initiatives. In addition, our wildlife report has also now been provided to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, and as TMR mentioned, they were investigating establishing a centralised database.

As of writing, our office has still not received a response from Noosa Council, and Sandy will continue to follow up.

The full wildlife study is available at www.bit.ly/NoosaWildlife and any feedback from Noosa Electorate residents can be emailed to noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

Further information

This wildlife report was paid for with funds from Sandy’s office operating budget as she has never supported efforts that see Members of Parliament (MPs) advertised on signage, drink coasters, or in other forms of paid advertising. She believes where possible these funds should be used to benefit the residents and community rather than the office bearer.

For those who would like to directly advocate regarding this, please contact the Queensland Minster for Transport and Main Roads via transportandmainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.

To contact the Noosa Council Mayor and Councillors, please find their information at www.noosa.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/927/contact-list-councillors

For Noosa 360 updates on other MP Funded Initiatives and grants, please visit www.sandybolton.com/category/mp-funding