Residents create petition to protect koalas, after at least six killed on Macarthur roads in one week

The future of the Macarthur region’s koalas remains uncertain after at least half a dozen of the marsupials were killed on our roads in the space of a week.

A koala in the care of Campbelltown WIRES earlier this year. Picture: Ian Svegovic

The future of the Macarthur region’s koalas remains uncertain after at least half a dozen of the marsupials were killed on our roads in the space of a week.

The deaths have sparked calls for more funding for conservation and protection of the species. The move follows the National Parks Association Macarthur branch hosting a public presentation of local koala research by Dr Robert Close.

Yanderra resident Merri Winter calling on community members to sign a petition asking for koala warning signs on Wollondilly shire roads. Campbelltown Council has already installed signs in areas with koala populations.

Ms Winters said she wanted to see koala signs implemented as well as specialised fences or overpasses to help koalas cross the road. “Wollondilly Council has spoken to the RMS about it and have ongoing talks about putting up fences or signs but nothing has happened,” she said.

“We are sad to see so many killed so we’re hoping that at the very least we can get some signs put up with a 24 hour WIRES number.

“We’re hoping the RMS will see just how many people are concerned about it.”

Councillor Michael Banasik and Merri Winter at the intersection of Avon Dam Road and the Hume Highway, Bargo, where koalas are commonly hit and killed. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

Ms Winter said high fatality areas included Picton, Bargo and Appin and there needed to be an increase in awareness.

Wollondilly councillor Michael Banasik has backed the petition, and will ask the council to push for action.

Meanwhile, Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown founder Ricardo Lonzo said residents could expect koalas to be on the move, as they became more active in time for mating season. “It’s time to act before it’s too late,” he said.

“Wildlife fencing under passes and land signage should be a must before anymore development is approved in wildlife areas.

“We are losing too many of our beautiful koalas to motor vehicles due to destruction of their habitats because of poor development approvals.”

Last week, more than 20 years of data on Campbelltown’s thriving koala colony was presented at a talk by Dr Close, and will soon be accessible to the public.

A koala recently sighted in Leumeah.

Campbelltown’s Nea Makowski attended the event at Campbelltown Arts Centre, and said research clearly showed koalas were widespread across the region. “Years of local koala research stats came alive before our eyes,” she said.

“Looking at the map of all the accumulated koala sightings ever reported in and around Campbelltown and listening to the speakers, it is apparent that the whole interface between the urban area and the bushland is a critically important koala corridor.

“My hope is that this database could potentially save the healthy Campbelltown koala colony by stopping reliance on developer-funded environmental reports which dismiss public koala sightings as anecdotal.”

St Helens Park has been found to be a high traffic area for the region’s koalas.

The petition now has more than 300 signatures.

To sign, visit: bit.ly/2upzp2t