2019-03-12 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    12 MARCH 2019


In summary of the audit note the following:
    It is not possible to completely safeguard fauna including koalas from vehicle strike, the
      role of fauna infrastructure is to mitigate risk, not eliminate risk.
    In Noosa Shire there is 867kms of Council roadways where fauna vehicle strike can occur.
      In addition vehicles on TMR roads, trains, watercraft can also strike fauna.
    There are 313 bird species, 75 mammal species, 67 reptile species, 35 frog species, 78
      butterfly species and other insects. These species may suffer vehicle strike at any time.
      With a high diversity of species there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to design of road
      infrastructure.
    Each year there are increasing frequency of traffic movements across the shire.
    The consultants have recommended investment of $2.16m for Council roads to
      improve/develop koala hard road infrastructure in ‘hotspot’ areas (this figure does not
      include soft infrastructure costs). This represents 1.6% of the Council road network extent.
    Fencing with underpasses can help mitigate vehicle strike to koalas on long stretches of
      road but it is practically impossible to fence and gate local roads where there are multiple
      intersections, roundabouts, side roads and driveways.
    Existing koala fences (or added extensions) are not continuous. Koalas may use
      underpasses but they can also travel up to 500m in a night and can walk around the end of
      the fence lines.
    Clearing of regrowth vegetation along existing koala fences at Eenie Creek and Walter Hay
      Drive would result in a loss of 9.3km or 2.78ha of advanced regrowth and potentially divert
      water flow and increase soil erosion. An ecological assessment would need to be
      undertaken prior to any clearing. At the eastern end of Eenie Creek Road it is likely that
      some Glossy-black Cockatoo feed trees would need to be cleared.
    There are currently 70 koala/wildlife road signs throughout the shire but they have
      questionable effectiveness in reducing fauna vehicle strike as regular drivers tend not to
      notice the signs after a time, but new visitors may notice the signs. Similarly dog control
      signs have questionable effectiveness. Greater resourcing for Council’s Regulatory
      Services would assist with greater dog controls.
    There is a lack of overall data to suggest that vehicle strike is the main cause of a decline
      in koala populations in Noosa, although it is very likely to contribute. Other factors such as
      dog attack and disease can cause a significant impact on koala populations.
Action 5.6. Monitor the effectiveness of new technology trials such as road reflectors to
discourage koalas and other wildlife from crossing roads, koala alert signs at crossing points and
improved lighting
Virtual fencing
Virtual fencing has been used extensively in Europe. The fence posts have headlight sensors
that trigger noise and flashing lights to deter wildlife away from the roadway as a vehicle
approaches. Virtual fences have been trialled in Tasmania which showed a 60-70% drop in fauna
vehicle strike. Consultants (The Analytical Edge Statistical Consulting 2015) concluded that
virtual fences help to reduce road kill and recommend that trials should continue elsewhere. The
advantage of virtual fencing is that when vehicles are not on the road, fauna can still move and
disperse across the landscape. Virtual fencing costs approximately $15,000 per km plus research
monitoring costs.
Koala experts advise that koalas are not as receptive to light and noise stimuli as other fauna and
the current virtual fencing technologies are unlikely to be effective for koalas.




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