Campbelltown City Council has launched a traffic awareness campaign to encourage motorists to be aware of koalas crossing busy roads during the annual breeding season.
A variable electronic messaging sign has been placed at the intersection of Georges River Road and Junction Road, to encourage motorists to slow down and be vigilant when driving through the area.
The current messages being displayed include the following three:
KOALA BREEDING SEASON WATCH OUT/LOOK OUT KOALAS ABOUT
KOALA BREEDING SEASON BE A HERO REDUCE ROADKILL TO ZERO
and KOALA BREEDING SEASON SLOW DOWN KOALAS AROUND.
Complementing the new signage, the nearby Leumeah High School and Ruse Public School have joined the campaign, incorporating koala road safety messages on school noticeboards.
Campbelltown is home to one of the largest koala populations in the Sydney Basin, and during their breeding season from August to February, male koalas become more active as they search for mates and new territories, often crossing roads in the process.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Lake, said council was taking a proactive approach by providing signage in areas known to be koala ‘hotspots’, as well as working with schools and the local community.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Our local koalas are the last remaining disease free population in the Sydney Basin, and road accidents are one of their biggest threats,’’ Cr Lake said.[/social_quote]
“Sadly, most koalas don’t survive an impact from a car, so it’s important to remind motorists to be watchful.’’
Council has installed 18 new road signs in high risk areas where koala road fatalities have been recorded.
They are part of a koala management plan, currently being finalised by council, which aims to introduce strategies to help protect the local koala population.
Funding options are also being pursued to facilitate further management actions, including a study to identify priority restoration sites for koala habitat throughout the LGA, which would enable revegetation efforts to be focused in key areas.
Residents are encouraged to assist in the conservation of the local koala population by reporting any koala sightings to Council on 4645 4847, or if they find an injured koala, to contact WIRES on 1300 094 737 or the Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services on 9413 4300.
