Award for Moreton Bay wildlife program

A road safety network making life a little easier for Moreton Bay’s wildlife has received a national award.

The Australasian Network for Ecology and Transportation (ANET) has given City of Moreton Bay a Project Award for its Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program.

It has delivered more than 47 canopy bridges, 21km of wildlife exclusion fencing, 16 fauna escape hatches, 48 wildlife underpasses and vehicle-activated LED signs on more than 3800km of Council roads since 2014.

“Our Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program continues to lead the country in delivering critical infrastructure designed to get kangaroos, koalas and other species off our roads and away from vehicles,” Mayor Peter Flannery said.

“As our population rapidly increases, City of Moreton Bay is committed to striking that vital balance between managing rising traffic volumes and providing safe pathways for animals to move between parks and reserves.”

Council is monitoring fauna crossing structures with a permanent 4G camera network at 14 network locations, including North Lakes, Bribie, Morayfield, Narangba and Everton Hills.

Since 2020, cameras have detected more than 80,000 crossings including those by rarely seen species such as the marsupial Brush-tailed Phascogale and the Feather-tailed Glider – the world’s smallest gliding mammal.

More than 150 vehicle-activated LED signs have also been installed which provide real-time road safety information to motorists and raise awareness in koala and kangaroo zones.

“Council has shown a leadership in delivering green infrastructure outcomes for local governments across Australia, and demonstrated to all levels of government, what can be achieved when different departments work together to achieve a common goal,” ANET Chairperson Rodney Van der Ree said.

It follows the Australian Road Safety Foundation awarding the Program its Local Government Programs Award at last year’s Australian Road Safety Awards.