“Koalas crossing busy roadways can’t protect themselves, so we have to do it for them,’’ Cr Karen Hunt told last week’s Campbelltown Council meeting.
Speaking to a notice of motion calling for action following the recent death of a koala on Appin Road, Cr Hunt said it was important measures to protect koalas were taken before planned large scale development arrived.
“Appin Road is a state road so it’s time the state government came to the party and helped protect our koalas, which may be the only disease free colony anywhere,’’ Cr Hunt said.
The notice of motion, tabled together with fellow Labor councillor Meg Oates, received support on Tuesday night when put to the vote.
The motion read:
• council notes the recent death of a female koala by vehicular incident on Appin Road.
• write to the Minister for Roads and Infrastructure requesting that additional funds be allocated for the immediate installation on Appin Road of fauna overpass crossings with a minimum distance of flexi fencing either side to assist in guiding koalas safely across.
• this crossing and associated fencing be installed at sites along Appin Road in known koala crossing corridors, in the same manner as fencing on the Pacific Highway north of Sydney.
• council also write to the Member for Campbelltown, Mr Greg Warren, seeking his support for additional funding be allocated for the immediate installation of such fencing and crossing.
• these protections be suitably relocated or extended once the Mount Gilead development or any development on Appin Road commences.
Cr Paul Lake, who supported the motion, reminded council that he had asked for a report on the use of heat seeking drones to identify koala locations around the region.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“It would really help if we knew exactly where koalas lived and where they moved around to,’’ Cr Lake said.[/social_quote]
Cr Lake asked the officers if the report was still being prepared and he was told “yes’’.
♦ In other decisions last Tuesday:
• Council approved plans for a delegation visit to Japanese sister city Koshigaya in August 2017.
Council will cover the cost of the airfares and accommodation costs of the Mayor and council’s international relations staff person.
• Gave the green light to talks with other member Councils of MACROC (Camden and Wollondilly) regarding the future direction for regional collaboration.
Council reaffirmed, at the same time, its commitment to continue to seek opportunities for regional collaboration.
This would be awesome. So would a new Appin road to help reduce human fatalities.
A #SustainableAustralia includes a sustainable #environment and population.