Brooms Head man Steve Otton fights to save emus

Confronting images of emus killed by traffic have driven a community to take action. Here is what’s being done. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

They are images that no one wants to see, but are the reality for an endangered coastal emu population.

With numbers cited as low as 50 in the region, the sight of the beautiful animals dead on the side of the road can be confronting.

But for Brooms Head man Steve Otton, who has been championing the plight of the animals for many years, it is worth seeing to get the message out.

“Many people just don’t know that there’s a problem and they just speed down the road here,” he said.

“If it makes people more aware then it’s worth it.”

An emu lies dead beside Brooms Head Road after being hit by a car. Picture: Steve Otton

Mr Otton had previously made his own warning signs for sections of the road, but had them repeatedly stolen or damaged by vandals.

But he continues to document the animals, keen for them to make a recovery.

“There was footage of a father emu with chicks crossing the road recently, and that’s the first lot we’ve seen with chicks for a while,” he said.

“That’s good news, but it means they’ll all be back crossing the road, and I don’t think there can enough signage or warning for people.”

Barbara Linley, who helped form the local Lions Club of Clarence Environmental, said Mr Otton’s photos were a good warning to drivers.

“I think it really has to hit home for people what is going on,” she said.

An emu lies dead beside Brooms Head Road after being hit by a car. Picture: Steve Otton

After some failed attempts to gain assistance, Ms Linley said the club had some recent success in their efforts to save the emus.

“We’ve got Save our Species and council on-board and we’ve been talking to Transport for NSW,” she said.

New “patches” or warning signs will be painted on the road, as well as flashing warning signs that Ms Linley hopes will spread the word of the danger the emus are in.

Emus cross the road at Brooms Head. Picture: Supplied

As part of their fight, they gained 1300 signatures on a petition, and have raised more than $4000 to pay for the patches.

New fencing will also be constructed in the emu corridor to help the emus cross safely between properties.

Clarence Valley Council natural resource management co-ordinator Reece Luxton said the aim was to enable farmers to maintain a boundary fence while at the same time making it permeable so emus could pass through without stress or risk of injury.

“Trial sites will be monitored using motion detection cameras to see how the emus adapt to this style of fencing, which will determine if it is suitable for future projects,” Mr Luxton said.