Wildlife carers are calling for urgent action to prevent koala fatalities and injuries at Calder Freeway hot spots in the Macedon Ranges.
Damaged wildlife fencing is enabling koalas and other wildlife access to dangerous roadways, and requests for maintenance are going unanswered.
Wildings Woodend Wildlife Shelter has tended to five koalas at the Black Forest Drive overpass in the past 18 months. Four of those resulted in fatalities from catastrophic injuries, including a mother and her joey that needed to be euthanised last week.
Carer Mel Fraser said the Calder Freeway at Macedon and Woodend was the scene of too many wildlife collisions.
“We need to do something. We are losing an alarming number of koalas now. Last season was one of the worst for us,” she said.
“It’s very distressing to get out of bed at 2am, expecting to save a life and to end up having to end it.”
Now in koala breeding season, when koala movements increase (September to January), the call for preventative measures is critical.
Ms Fraser said wildlife carers wanted to see fencing maintenance and improvements along the Calder Freeway. They also want it to be a trial site of new electronic wildlife signage to warn drivers.
Fellow Wildlings’ carer Karl Dawson said there are areas of fencing with large holes, and some areas appear to have been cut for people to gain access. Mr Dawson also suggested corrugated iron on the fenceline in some areas to prevent koala climbing the fence.
“Koalas get through it – if they are so inclined, they will just climb over it,” he said.
“Although it is 60km/h, we are still getting people hitting wildlife on the overpass. Some sort of signage that is new and different to have out during breeding season would be useful.”
The shelter has been operating from Woodend for about five years. Mel has been rescuing and caring for wildlife for about 18 years and Karl for about 16 years.
Despite repeated attempts to be heard on the wildlife fencing, they say they have had little response from the Department of Transport and Planning.
Animal Justice MP for Northern Victoria, Georgie Purcell, recently raised their concerns in Parliament and asked the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to provide an assurance the fencing would be maintained.
“I have raised this issue repeatedly, but the government has failed to act,” Ms Purcell told the Express.
“The fencing has been in place for years, yet it has fallen to volunteers to monitor and assess the damage to help prevent further wildlife collisions.
“Rescuers have told us that repairing the fence must be the priority in order to stop koalas entering the road, putting themselves and public safety at risk.
“Dynamic signage is proven to have a significantly greater impact on driver behaviour than static signage in koala passage zones, which is why I’ve renewed my calls for a trial of electronic wildlife warning signage during periods of frequent koala movement.”
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said crews inspected the Calder Freeway twice a week to monitor conditions and undertake necessary maintenance.
“Wildlife underpasses and rope bridges are in place along the Calder Highway to help protect wildlife,” they said.
In the case of wildlife strike or need of wildlife assistance, call Wildlife Victoria’s 24/7 line on: (03) 8400 7300.