Koalas and other wildlife will be able to move more easily between two of southern Sydney's major national parks thanks to the repurposing of a road bridge over the busy Princes Motorway.
The project will see part of Cawleys Bridge, south of Waterfall, transformed into a wildlife crossing that links Heathcote National Park in the west to Garawarra State Conservation Area and the Royal National Park in the east.
The hope is that the bridge will allow koala and wombat populations in Heathcote National Park expand east into Garawarra State Conservation Area and Royal National Park.
There has been a long history of community advocacy for this bridge conversion, first having been put forward by Bob Crombie, a now retired former National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger in Royal National Park.
The bridge is 70 metres long and 7.5 metres wide, with four metres width required for vehicle crossing which will still be available for emergency and management access.
The remaining 3.5 metres will be modified for the passage of the koalas and other species including wombats, gliders and snakes.
Monitoring with infrared drones, cameras and song meters is also underway to better understand how wildlife use the overpass ahead of the conversion.
The project is funded by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the work is being undertaken by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) with completion expected in March, subject to weather.
Quotes attributable to Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water officer Kylie Madden.
"This is one of the most exciting and rewarding projects I've worked on - a true collaboration.
"Creating a network of interconnected koala habitat is essential to the future of the southern Sydney koala population, and reconnecting Heathcote National Park to Garrawarra and Royal National Park across the Motorway is a great start.
"Monitoring wildlife movement is important as it will help us understand how koalas and other wildlife are moving across the bridge."
Quotes attributable to Matthew Burns, Director Regional Delivery & Statewide Services - Transport for NSW:
"This section of the Princes Motorway sees well over 40,000 vehicles per day, so this infrastructure will contribute to fauna and driver safety.
"Transport for NSW has observed more than 25,000 animals across 67 native species use our crossings throughout NSW, which shows these structures are having a major positive effect.
"We've delivered more than 300 fauna safety structures across the state but this is the first retro-fitted crossing we've installed and it maximises value by re-purposing part of the existing bridge."
Quotes attributable to Bob Crombie, retired ecologist (former NPWS Ranger at Royal National Park 1970-80s, and former TAFE Head Teacher):
"Repurposing this bridge to become more wildlife friendly is brilliant, and absolutely necessary for the wellbeing of our national parks. The wildlife is the park, the park is not just land with trees on it, no, it's a living thing.
"I think people driving that way south will see this thing and start asking for more.
"I feel very, very happy - this was a real achievement, and Australia is listening and the world is finally starting to do something more for wildlife."
