Petition wants speed limit cut to save kangaroos

Residents are calling for a speed reduction on Messmates Rd to protect a mob of kangaroos living in the neighbouring bushland. Photo: KLAUS NANNESTAD

MORE than 2,700 people have called for a cut to speed limits on Torquay’s Messmate Road to protect a local mob of kangaroos.

At their meeting on Tuesday, Surf Coast Shire councillors received a petition urging the speed limit reduction as well as the installation of wildlife warning signage.

The petition had 2,760 signatures coming from both a hard copy petition and online at change.org. However, the council’s report did note there were some people who had signed both versions of the petition.

The petition says the changes are “necessary for the safety of motorists and local wildlife.”

It states that developments in North Torquay have infringed upon the kangaroos’ natural corridors and thus made it difficult for them to move safely around the surrounding areas, and that this problem was likely to worsen in the future.

“The mob currently most at risk live in the farm paddock immediately west of the West Coast Business Park. We have been informed by the land owner that this area is to remain as a paddock ‘for quite some time yet’.

“Consequently, this mob will continue to use the paddock while surrounding development increases and traffic becomes heavier.”

Works began on Messmate Road earlier this year, including road reconstruction, drainage upgrades and the sealing of 1.1 kilometres of previously unsealed road.

The new roundabout where Messmate Road meets the Surf Coast Highway is due to open today (Thursday, December 12).

Council officers will now compile a report on the petition that will be presented at the next council meeting on January 21.