TMR blamed for another dead cassowary on Kuranda Range

The death of the last surviving chick of Elvis the cassowary at the top of the Kuranda Range has reignited calls for better protection of the endangered flightless bird.

Merlin the southern cassowary photographed at a Black Mountain Rd property hours before a young bird was killed on Thursday. Picture: Nikita Pineapple

THE death of the last surviving chick of Elvis the cassowary at the top of the Kuranda Range has reignited calls for better protection of the endangered flightless bird.

Three of Elvis’ chicks have now been hit and killed at the same place.

Jax Bergersen of the Kuranda Conservation group had been pushing for a speed reduction from 80 to 60km/h at the overtaking lane near the Saddle Mountain Rd turn off but was dismayed by a letter from authorities indicating there would be no change.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has been blamed for another dead cassowary on Kuranda Range. Picture: FACEBOOK

READ MORE: MISSION BEACH CASSOWARY ‘MRS C’ MOURNED

“Changing the intent of the lanes by making the left lane an optional turn out lane would reduce the effectiveness of this opportunity. If TMR were to reconfigure the lanes, drivers may get stuck behind slow vehicles that choose not to pull into the left lane,” Transport and Main Roads told Ms Bergersen.

“This would increase the risk of drivers attempting unsafe manoeuvres further down the road.

“TMR currently has no intent to change the configuration of this section of Kennedy Highway.”

The Kuranda-based conservationist labelled the response “ridiculous”.

“They just (changed the speed limit) for the whole of the Kuranda Range Rd and now they are saying we can’t take that risk for the last 200m.”

Kuranda resident Jax Bergersen is worried about cassowaries on the Kuranda Range.

READ MORE: DRIVER CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT ANIMALS

Ms Bergersen said she felt the protection of cassowaries simply had not been made a priority by TMR.

“I am more angry than I am sad because there is something that can be done and what is angering me is there is a refusal by TMR to do anything about it,” she said.

“They can do it. They simply have to change the speed limit at that location to 60km/h. “There have been three deaths in six months in exactly the same spot.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the latest death was “very sad”.

“Last week I met with cassowary welfare advocates to look at what more can be done to avoid the deaths of these magnificent birds on local roads,” he said.

Reducing speed limits and cassowary crossing points were suggested to reduce the mortality rate.

Work on a $30 million Kuranda Range safety package to include “intelligent traffic systems” are expected to begin before Christmas, Mr Bailey said.

TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS SPOKESWOMAN RESPONSE

We are aware of a cassowary death on Kuranda Range Road (on Thursday.)

We take the issue of cassowary protection seriously and are working closely with cassowary advocacy groups to prevent road strikes.

Motorists have a responsibility to be cassowary aware and drive to the conditions in known cassowary habitats.

We also urge drivers not to stop to take photographs as stationary vehicles on the Kuranda Range Road create risks for other drivers.

We recently investigated a call from the community to remove the overtaking lane and reduce the speed at this location.

Doing this would create a road safety issue, increasing the risk of drivers attempting unsafe manoeuvres further down the road.

Cassowary protection measures already introduced by TMR include installation of variable message signs on the Kuranda Range Road, which are being used to notify drivers of road hazards, including cassowary sightings.

We are also currently undertaking a $100,000 study to develop a Cassowary Strike Management Plan which will ensure a holistic approach to address driver behaviour across all known cassowary areas. The study is expected to be completed later this year.

If you spot a cassowary, we ask you to ring QLD Traffic on 13 19 40 or use the QLD Traffic app (when safe to do so) and report the sighting.

Originally published as TMR blamed for another dead cassowary on Kuranda Range