Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3B: Plans for overpass across busy road to save koalas from trams

A new fence and overpass is being pitched as the way to reduce fatalities for wildlife at a busy Gold Coast road and protect them from being harmed by the light rail.

A FAUNA overpass and wildlife exclusion fencing is being pitched as a barrier to protect koalas from light rail as the trams head further south from Burleigh Heads.

Experts predict a fauna overpass design by Habitat Environment Management will reduce road fatalities for wildlife in one of the Gold Coast’s busiest transport corridors.

TRAM ROUTES - WHERE LIGHT RAIL WILL GO AFTER AIRPORT

Fauna overpass. Light Rail expansion

RESUMPTIONS NEEDED FOR LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION

The fencing would back residential properties on the western side of the Gold Coast Highway, and on the edge of the headland bushland reaching down to the Tallebudgera Creek on the eastern side.

The fauna overpass crossing is proposed half way along, between the Burleigh township and the creek.

On either side of the highway, would be one-way wildlife escape chutes where koalas caught on the “dangerous side” of the corridor could jump down and escape to safety.

Habitat Environment Management’s managing director Matt Keys estimates the cost will be about one per cent of Stage 3B.

WORK TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY ON STAGE 3A

Habitat founder Matt Keys — passionate about saving koala. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The final stage of light rail to the airport is yet to be costed, but 3A from Broadbeach to Burleigh will cost $709 million – which suggests the fencing would cost several million dollars.

“There’s a broad range of community concern regarding the future widening of the highway where it travels through the national park precinct,” Mr Keys said.

“The reality is that our city is growing and like it or not, this means existing major transport corridors get widened and upgraded to accommodate the growing use of these corridors.

OTHER NEWS

Location of new Gold Coast primary school revealed

Chris Hemsworth’s trainer spills: ‘Good looking but dumb’

Tassy devils find new Coast home

“Whether it’s for more car lanes, new bus lanes or for a light rail is of no difference

to animals trying to cross. Their job only becomes even more perilous as a consequence of the transport corridor widening.”

Koalas based in the Jellurgal National Park at Burleigh Heads and the Burleigh Ridge Conservation Park on the other side of the highway were “moving back and forth”, but it was not known how many had died.

The Compton Road fauna overpass.

The widening of the transport corridor for Stage 3B would trigger a referral to the Federal Government under the Environment Protection Biodiversity.

“Currently there are no fences and animals have no way of getting across a very busy

road safely,” Mr Keys said.

“Ironically, a future widening of the highway corridor through the national park would be the best thing to happen for wildlife, because for the first time in 90 years there’d be fauna exclusion fences and a fauna overpass connecting both sides of the highway.”

Griffith University’s Professor Darryl Jones, a specialist in wildlife crossings, said the concept put forward by Mr Keys was “fundamentally sound”.

Professor Darryl Jones at the Compton Road fauna overpass.

“The fencing is essential to prevent large animals from accessing this busy road. The other

function of the fencing is to direct animals toward the crossing structure. From what I have been told the design of this overpass is likely to be flat,” Professor Jones said.

At the well-known Compton Road overpass at Kuraby, the unplanned growth of

grass cover attracted grazing species within a few weeks of the end of construction.

Urban Planning Services director Michael Nash said the fauna overpass supported the

goals set out in council’s City Plan.

“The concept plan also represents an important step in supporting the world-class city and living with nature aspirations of the City Plan,” he said.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: $5 PER MONTH FOR THE FIRST 3 MONTHS

Fauna overpass area on the Pacific Highway. Pic David Clark.

One of the most important of the bioregional corridors was the Burleigh to Springbrook corridor, eventually linking the Burleigh Heads National Park to the Springbrook National Park, the leading town planner said.