The Minns Labor Government is continuing to make koala safety on NSW roads a top priority, with new fauna fences and motorist warning signs going up at vehicle strike hotspots in western and southern Sydney suburbs.
It's a critical time to protect the much-loved marsupials with breeding season running from August until the end of summer, meaning many more koalas will be moving around.
In Sydney's south, koala protection on busy Heathcote Road has taken a major step forward with work on the $1.9 million project starting this month, thanks to funding from the NSW Koala Strategy.
More than a kilometre of fencing is being delivered around Deadmans Creek in strategic locations to prevent koalas and other fauna from entering Heathcote Road between St George Crescent at Sandy Point and Pleasure Point Road at Pleasure Point.
The koala fencing stands 1.5 metres high with non-climbable sheeting and will connect into existing fencing and safe fauna crossing points under the road.
Access for koalas under the existing Deadmans Creek Bridge will be improved with the installation of repurposed logs to help koalas climb across drainage lines.
A modified cattle grid - known as a koala grid - that impedes koala access and a pedestrian gate that stops koalas while allowing human access will also be installed at St George Crescent, along with one-way escape hatches in the fence.
This work follows the installation of six permanent koala warnings signs on Heathcote Road in 2023 and temporary electronic signs deployed during koala breeding seasons.
Construction is set to begin next year for a planned koala underpass with concrete rectangular tunnel (box culvert) and logs around Appin Road at Ousedale Creek in Sydney's west, one of three underpasses to be built between Appin and Rosemeadow developed in partnership with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
The specifically designed koala-friendly underpass will be located 35 metres south of the Brian Road intersection and will be supported by grids, fencing and escape poles to allow koalas to climb to safety.
In response to community feedback, interim koala protection fencing is being installed along around 700 metres of Appin Road near Beulah Reserve.
This is designed to deter koalas from venturing onto this busy stretch of road and is in addition to other measures including warning signs and road markings.
Further south, 3.5 kilometres of new wildlife fencing is being added on both sides of Picton Road at Cataract between the Picton Road westbound rest area and Cordeaux Dam Road to adjoin the existing fence.
This fence extension is being installed with $6.3 million provided under the Safer Roads Program that has already delivered widening of the eastbound lane and centre barrier installation. It will be completed by the end of August.
This work follows the installation of a grid at Cordeaux Dam Road to deter koalas from entering the roadway.
This new fencing between the Picton Road rest area westbound and Cordeaux Dam Road will close a gap in the existing fencing and further help to prevent koala strikes.
The upgraded wildlife fencing used on all of these projects is designed to be durable and secure with the use of thick-gauge wire, strong mesh, and tie wires installed frequently to provide strength and longevity.
For more information on Heathcote Road, visit the Transport for NSW website.
For more information on Appin Road, visit the Ousedale Creek Koala Underpass web page.
Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:
"The Minns Labor Government has long been committed to koala protection.
"Vehicle strikes are both a tragedy for our threatened wildlife and a safety hazard for motorists, so we need to do more to prevent them through thoughtful improvements to our road infrastructure.
"Koalas live with us in our suburbs and bring nature into our lives. We have an obligation to protect them and to act as good neighbours."
