Driving down koala road deaths

Koala conservation is ramping up in Moreton Bay, with 49 roadside escape hatches installed after a successful Australia-first trial.

The Fauna Escape Hatch is a one-way egress device which allows koalas and other species to escape road corridors into bushland and prevent re-entry.

New hatch locations include:

Youngs Crossing, Joyner (7)

Samsonvale Rd, Joyner (4)

Samsonvale Rd, Bray Park (2)

Kremzow Rd, Cashmere (5)

Lilley Road, Cashmere (4)

Gympie Road, Petrie (9)

Gympie Road, Lawnton (2)

Henry Road, Griffin (2)

Dohles Rocks Road, Griffin (2)

Old Northern Road, Cashmere (3)

It follows an in-network trial of the hatches, developed by local business Endeavour Veterinary Ecology (EVE) with support from Council.

During the 12-month trial of 16 hatches at seven Council-managed roads, there were no koala fatalities recorded at wildlife crossings with devices on roadside fencing.

Camera monitoring showed koalas and other native wildlife, including echidnas and bandicoots, using the one-way hatch to escape the road corridor.

Council is also working with EVE to trial their new larger hatches for macropods on Bribie Island, a hotspot for collisions involving kangaroos.

There are also plans to install fauna hatches at sites in Kallangur and Caboolture.

“We are committed to protecting our wildlife including the iconic koala – and EVE’s fauna hatches are helping us do just that,” Mayor Peter Flannery said.

“The trial showed us these hatches provide effective exits for native animals when navigating roads, preventing them and road users from being injured or killed.”

Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Environmental Manager - Technology Natasha Banville said: “What started as a trial to understand how koalas navigate roads has evolved into the Fauna Escape Hatch program through monitoring, refinement and collaboration with Council.

“It is very encouraging to now see the hatches being installed more broadly as part of Council’s road infrastructure.”

To rollout the life-saving devices, Council used a grant under the State Government’s SEQ Koala Threat Management Initiatives (KTMI) program.

Recently verified by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, EVE’s Fauna Escape Hatch is becoming a standard feature in road infrastructure projects across Queensland.

Council is also installing seasonal signs in key wildlife collision hotpots, warning drivers of the increased risk of encountering wildlife in peak breeding and dispersal times.

An initial 10-year community lease has also been given for the Moreton Bay Wildlife Hospital to operate the City’s first dedicated wildlife hospital on Council-allocated land.