Virtual fence to be trialled near Anglesea

WILDLIFE advocates on the Surf Coast have hailed the inclusion of funding in the 2021-22 State Budget to run a virtual fencing trial.

The budget allocates $165,000 to test the technology on a stretch of Forest Road near Anglesea.

A series of devices placed about 25 metres apart, the virtual fence is activated by headlights and emit sounds and light stimuli to alert animals something is approaching and warn them away from the road.

The technology has been tested in various parts of Australia, including a three-year trial in Tasmania.

Surfcoast Wildlife Rescue has been campaigning for years to get funding for such a fence in the Surf Coast region and enlisted the support of Member for Western Victoria and Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick, who submitted the budget bid earlier this year.

In a Facebook post celebrating the announcement last week, Surfcoast Wildlife Rescue’s Jason Cichocki said his group had been gathering data on macropod/vehicle collisions on the Surf Coast for the past three years.

“The data we have collected has tragically proven that Forest Road (in) Anglesea alone sees the largest annual loss of kangaroo and wallaby lives in the entire region, with upwards of 200 to 250 kangaroos and wallabies killed, injured and orphaned each and every year,” he said.

Mr Cichocki said the collisions with wildlife could also result in profound damage and trauma for the humans involved.

“But now, after years of dedication by many people, it has been announced that the state government also agrees that something needs to be done urgently to mitigate wildlife/vehicle collisions in our region, and have allocated funding for the implementation of a trial of virtual fencing on Forest Road, Anglesea,” he said.

“Finally we will see one of our most treacherous and often fatal stretches of road phenomenally safer for both animal and human users alike.

“Just as significantly, the implementation of life saving virtual fencing will put Surf Coast Shire on the map as one of the few regions in Australia that cares about, and actively works towards, protecting and preserving our precious wildlife.”

Mr Cichocki thanked Mr Meddick for his support.

“While our data collection was a vital part of the state government’s decision to fund this trial, if it were not for Andy and his team relentlessly advocating for the wildlife of our region, we would not today be celebrating this incredible outcome,” he said.

Mr Meddick said the virtual fence was one of several budget wins for animals, with others including funding for horse rescue initiatives and farm animal sanctuaries.