Lismore City Council is pleased to announce the appointment of a contractor to manage the installation of a koala exclusion fence on the corner of Tatham Road and the Bruxner Highway at Tatham to reduce the number of deaths and injuries at this roadkill hotspot.
Contractors, Ecoteam, will manage construction of a koala exclusion fence along a section of the Bruxner Highway at South Gundurimba on the corner of Tatham Road, approximately 12 km west of Lismore.
The works will involve the installation of the following key components:
• 1.5km of fencing along both sides of the Bruxner Highway, commencing at the Pelican Creek Bridge and including the intersection and 120m of Tatham Road.
• Safe crossing point under Pelican Creek Bridge and fauna escape structures
• Koala grids (similar to cattle grid) across three driveways
Council's Environmental Strategies Officer, Jack Herington, said koala-proof fencing helps direct koalas away from major road traffic and funnel them towards safe crossing points. A number of one-way escape poles will also be installed to allow koalas that accidentally enter the road side to escape.
"The project was strongly backed by the community when it went out for public consultation," he said.
"Unfortunately, it was delayed due to the 2022 natural disaster, then by project management constraints and availability.
"However, Council never lost sight of the importance of the project and it is now going ahead and is expected to be completed towards the later half of next year, weather dependent.
The project has brought together a range of stakeholders and specialists from Lismore City Council, Friends of the Koala, Transport for NSW and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to deliver this important project for conserving our local koala population.
Lismore City Council received funding from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to deliver this project for the community.
Picture: Koala exclusion fence on Skyline Road.
