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

Table 5 Walter Hay Drive - North Extension 2 (Figure 14d)

 Koala                  Location/type             Description/Condition                Access/ tenure                Koala fauna/evidence        Recommendations                                                    Photos                Comments
 Infrastructure
 Proposed Hard          Fencing                   Extend koala exclusion fencing to    •   Pathway from Walter           -                       •    West side Option 1: Extend existing mesh fence with           Photos                •    3 recorded koala mortalities close
                                                  the north (several options)              Hay Drive underpass                                        colorbond strip 90m north to end of council reserve and                                  roundabout near Walter Hay Drive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1- access tracks to
                                                                                           (outside Noosa Civic                                       high koala habitat (note short existing non-koala                                        Underpass
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    under bridge
                                                                                           Centre) along Eenie                                        exclusion fence bridge entrance)                                                    •    Council to confirm there is enough
                                                                                                                                                 •    West side Option 2: Extend existing mesh fence with           2-exist short non-
                                                                                           Creek Road to Monks                                                                                                                                 room for fencing between road and
                                                                                                                                                      colorbond strip 850m north to Noosa Civic Shopping            koala     exclusion
                                                                                           Bridge                                                                                                                                              powerline on eastern side, otherwise
                                                                                                                                                      Centre Access                                                 fence on bridge
                                                                                       •   Service track for under                                                                                                                             end fence earlier and install long return
                                                                                                                                                 •    East side Option 1: Extend existing mesh fence with           entrance      (west
                                                                                           Eenie Creek Bridge
                                                                                                                                                      colorbond strip 460m north to end of Council reserve          side only)
                                                                                           (nth)
                                                                                       •   Service track for                                     •    East side Option 2: Extend existing mesh fence with           3-powerline runs
                                                                                           powerline easement                                         colorbond strip 1400m north to Eenie Creek Road to            along road
                                                                                       •   Council either side                                        deter koalas from entering roundabout. Will require 2
                                                                                           after bridge, private                                      koala exclusion gates (powerline access, service track for
                                                                                           and Noosa NP                                               bridge)


                                                                                                                                                 Ensure escape routes and access maintenance track installed on
                                                                                                                                                 any new fencing. Locate fence as close as possible to road verge
                                                                                                                                                 for better visibility
                        Passageways               •   Underneath Eenie Creek           -                             •   No koala scats found    •    Refuge poles under Eenie Creek Bridge                         4-6 under Eenie       Exclude Walter Hay Drive underpass due to
                                                      Bridge (north). Good                                               either side of Eenie                                                                       Creek Bridge (nth)    safety and public access issues. Minimal
                                                      Passageway, light and open.                                        Creek Bridge (nth)                                                                         7-9 – Walter Hay      connectivity west side of underpass to justify.
                                                      Good height underneath, 15m                                    •   No koala scats found                                                                       Drive underpass
                                                      width, 130m from pylon to                                          either side of Walter
                                                      creek edge                                                         Hay Drive underpass
                                                  •   Walter Hay Drive Underpass                                     •   No koala scats found
                                                      (unsuitable). Box culvert for                                      north side of Eenie
                                                      bike and pedestrian access.                                        Creek Road near
                                                      Retrofitting with ledge may                                        easement and in
                                                      create safety issues for bikes                                     reserve
                                                      and minimal connectivity to
                                                      justify. Koala habitat not
                                                      visible from west side
                        Existing Barriers         •   Concrete barriers on Eenie       -                             -                           •    Provide lattice structures on barrier walls, ensure enough    10 – wall Eenie       Several hits near roundabout
                                                      Creek Bridge                                                                                    room for bicycles                                             Creek Rd
                                                  •   wall on north side of Eenie                                                                •    Install additional climbing poles on Eenie Creek wall west    11 – no culvert
                                                      Creek Road where there are                                                                      section only where the wall is unclimbable.                   (weedy easement)
                                                      no trees or climbing poles
                                                      installed. West section only
 Proposed soft          Signage                   None on Walter Hay Drive             -                             -                           •    Install high visibility koala signage southbound
                        Speed                     60-80km/hr                           -                             -                           -                                                                  -                     -
                        Lighting                  Yes from Eenie Creek Bridge to       -                             -                           -                                                                  -                     -
                                                  Walter Hay Pass Roundabout
                        Road          verge       Predominately vegetated including    -                             -                           •    Increase road side slashing strip where possible and          12-Median strips
                        visibility                vegetated median strips                                                                             regularly maintain particularly in breeding season




Koala Infrastructure Audit & Feasibility Report                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Page 32

Noosa Council
17SUN-0087/1700860