Brisbane’s first koala underpass to be built at Toohey Forest

Planning for Brisbane’s first koala underpass is about to bear fruit, with hopes the $3m project will protect the marsupials in one of their last strongholds.

Brisbane’s first koala underpass is set to open late this year at Toohey Forest in an effort to protect one of the city’s healthiest populations of the marsupial.

There is already a land bridge, or overpass, at Compton Rd next to the Karawatha Forest koala habitat in Runcorn as well as several aerial bridges in the Whites Hill Reserve area, but so far no underpasses.

Only about 30 years ago there were no koalas in Toohey Forest, bordering Moorooka and Tarragindi.

But numbers have boomed in recent years, leading to speculation wildlife carers were dropping off animals rescued from other parts of the city.

Local resident Brad Lambert, who has rallied the community to protect the animals and set up a dedicated Facebook page, said that as more koalas moved in the death rate on the roads also increased.

“There’s no central database of koala deaths and we also don’t know what the population is,’’ he said.

One of the koalas living in Toohey Forest. Picture: AAP/Megan Slade

“The most I’ve seen in a week is 19 and in the last week I’ve seen 10 in various locations.

“Until we know those numbers we won’t know what a sustainable death rate is.’’

But Mr Lambert said the underpass would help to not only reduce car strikes, it would allow a large range of wildlife to move freely between the eastern and western sections of Toohey Forest.

“If that can’t happen fauna could disappear over time in smaller parcels such as the Moorooka side,’’ he said.

Artist's impression of how the koala tunnel will look, including one of the koala poles near an entrance. Image: BCC

Mr Lambert hoped movement-detection cameras would be installed so scientists from nearby Griffith University could study the effectiveness of the underpass. At the moment there was limited research on them.

Local councillor Steve Griffiths welcomed the $3m in federal funding for the project, which would be designed and built by council.

“It’s quite an amazing design, with fencing directing wildlife to the underpass while traffic can remain at (normal) speeds,’’ Mr Griffiths said.

Map of abundance of koalas in different parts of Toohey Forest.

“Fencing along the road funnels fauna between the large areas of Toohey Forest.

“Residents have been lobbying for action so I welcome the funding by the Albanese Government and (local state MP) Julianne Campbell.’’

About six years ago the state government built exclusion fencing along the M3 freeway to protect the marsupials.

The new underpass, to be built southwest of the Toohey Picnic Area, will have a koala refuge pole at each end and will be 2.4m wide and 2.4m high, with a log pole frame and mulch and natural material on the base to make it look natural.

Fencing with wildlife escape hatches 50m on either side of the crossing would also be installed.

Originally published as Brisbane’s first koala underpass to be built at Toohey Forest