Koala fence to save lives

A KOALA-proof fence will be built at a known roadkill hotspot in Tatham in an attempt to reduce the number of native animals injured and killed.

Lismore City has contracted local environmental consultancy Ecoteam to manage the installation of the fence on the corner of Tatham Road and the Bruxner Highway, about 12km west of Lismore.

The one-and-a-half kilometre-long barrier will run along both sides of the highway from Pelican Creek Bridge and include the intersection and 120m of Tatham Road.

It is hoped the fence will guide wildlife away from major road traffic and funnel them towards safe crossing points, including one that will be incorporated under the bridge.

Koala grids, similar to cattle grids, will also be installed across three driveways, along with several one-way escape poles to help koalas that accidentally enter the roadside to get back to safety.

The city received funding from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, weather dependent.

Transport for NSW and Friends of the Koala are also involved in the initiative.

Friends of the Koala area co-ordinator and rescuer Ina Engermann said the fence on Skyline Road had reduced fatalities and this more modern design certainly would as well.

“We’ve always had car hits out there but last season was just horrendous, and I kept coming back to council and pushing and pushing to get a result,” she said.

“They’re working hard on it, and we just need it in that specific area because a lot of the deaths are within 50m to 100m of each other.”

Engermann hopes for another underpass to be incorporated in the future and said engineers are exploring options.