2019-03-12 P&E Agenda - Item 5 - Attachment 2 - Koala Infrastructure & Feasibility Report

General condition
Most existing koala exclusion fencing on Council roads is in poor condition and does not appear to be
maintained at an appropriate frequency to ensure function.

Defects include:

•    Vegetation regrowth and branches within 3 metres of the existing koala fence
•    Mature koala habitat trees flush with the existing fence
•    Weeds/vines growing over existing fence
•    Holes in the fence due to vandalism
•    Gaps under the existing fence
•    Colorbond sheet has come away from posts on retrofitted acoustic fence
•    Gates have no colorbond sheet and/or there are gaps between the gates/fence
•    No returns or the fencing is not long enough
•    No escape routes are provided from existing fenced areas e.g. climbing poles or ramps
•    No refuge poles or dry ledges in culverts associated with fencing
•    Entrances to culverts or underpasses are overgrown with weeds
•    No access track along the fence to allow easy maintenance

Some examples of the defects are shown in Plate 2.

Recommendations
It is recommended that all existing koala exclusion fencing is cleared of vegetation, mended and maintained
to prevent koalas from entering the road side. Current fencing could potentially be extended where there
are gaps between two sections of fencing. Recommendations include:

•    clear/mulch regrowth vegetation within 3 metres of the fence where the loss of vegetation is not
     greater than the benefit of a clear fence line.
•    collar existing mature trees that are flush again fence
•    spray weeds/vines that are climbing over the fence
•    mend damaged fences that are leaning over or sections that have cuts or holes)
•    fill up gaps underneath fences
•    reattach where colorbond strips have come away from fence
•    ensure gates are exclusion fencing (attach colorbond sheet or fix gaps in gates)
•    extend returns if koala habitat or extend fencing where appropriate or possible to do so
•    ensure fencing has escape routes (such as climbing poles or ramps) to allow escape should an animal
     venture onto the road surface in a fenced area
•    Ensure entrances to culverts or bridges associated with existing koala exclusion fencing are kept free of
     weeds and have refuge poles
•    Create an access track where possible for regular maintenance

4.1.2. Koala Climbing Structures
Existing koala climbing structures (Figure 10 and Plate 3) have been installed at:

•    Edwards Street (lattice structures)
•    Grant Street (climbing poles)
Koala Infrastructure Audit & Feasibility Report                                                         Page 21

Noosa Council
17SUN-0087/1700860