New technology trials to improve the road safety of motorists and reduce the number wildlife vehicle strikes, particularly of koalas, kangaroos and wombats, will be rolled out in coming weeks, delivering on an election commitment by the Minns Labor Government.
Road engineers and safety experts are working with wildlife experts on two key trials:
- A trial of light-coloured pavement marking will test whether lighter pavement surfaces make it easier for drivers to avoid wildlife. This work will begin in April at the Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre in Cudal and will focus on a driver's ability to see animals on existing and lighter road surfaces at varying vehicle speeds.
- Artificial Intelligence assisted animal detection systems linked to 'smart' roadside signage. A trial at a Transport for NSW facility at Yennora in Western Sydney will 'train' AI cameras to identify common wildlife including kangaroos, koalas and wombats and link that to smart road signage to warn drivers of the presence of animals on the road and roadside in real time.
These trials are made possible by a $500,000 election commitment to investigate the use of emerging technologies as measures to reduce wildlife vehicle strike.
These initiatives complement existing measures being deployed to protect native wildlife and improve motorist safety travelling along some of the state's busiest roads.
Additional wildlife road safety initiatives include:
- New road markings to increase awareness of known koala hotspots. Motorists along Appin Road in Sydney's southwest will soon notice new road markings in known koala zones between Rosemeadow in Campbelltown south to Appin township. The design will feature the outline of a koala and the word "slow" to increase driver awareness of active koala colonies.
- One-way koala escape doors. Koalas frequently attempt to cross roads in search of mates or new habitat. The one-way doors allow koalas to escape the road corridor where fencing is in place, but do not allow them to pass back through into traffic. Escape doors have been installed on koala fencing along the Hume Highway near Wilton, at the Nepean Bridge and Moolgun Creek Bridge, and will be installed on Appin Road near Gilead. Escape doors complement the existing timber pole escape structures and will be installed in several locations in south-west Sydney in the next year.
Minister for Roads John Graham said:
"Wildlife vehicle strike is a serious road safety issue, as well as impacting badly on our native fauna.
"Protecting our native wildlife along busy transport corridors and areas with growing communities is a real challenge for the NSW Government and Transport for NSW.
"We have committed to do more and I'm pleased that we're making progress, implementing new protection measures and starting trials on emerging technologies."
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
"Wildlife vehicle strikes represent a significant road safety issue and pose a threat to our native fauna, which is why the Minns Labor Government is committed to implementing effective mitigation strategies.
"With over 220,000 kilometres of public roads in NSW, our focus is on reducing animal strikes through collaboration with experts and community groups to safeguard both motorists and wildlife.
"The upcoming trial at our Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre at Cudal near Orange will pave the way for safer roads and better outcomes for our wildlife."
Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said:
"Appin Road is a key east-west transport corridor with growing communities along it, which creates a real challenge for protecting a healthy and active koala population.
"A variety of measures are being used to redirect animals away from the roadway, including, underpasses, rope crossing, barriers and fences.
"I understand the community concern and expectation around wildlife management. These measures will continue Transport's work to meet community standards when it comes to wildlife safety but also expectations around effective infrastructure to support these growing areas."
Emma Hurst MLC said:
"Wildlife vehicle strike is both a major animal welfare issue and a risk for drivers.
"There is a lot to be done in this space to protect both human and animal life, so it's promising to see the work being done by Transport for NSW in consultation with animal welfare groups, including the trials of AI technology and lighter pavements to improve wildlife visibility."
Background
- Transport for NSW is working with all levels of government, experts, and community groups and using proven techniques, such as fencing and connectivity structures, as well as exploring emerging technologies to reduce wildlife vehicle strikes and enhance habitat connectivity.
- There are more than 220,000 kilometres of public roads in NSW including over 40,000 kilometres of State and Regional roads and over 180,000 kilometres of local roads.
Impact on wildlife:
- BioNet data between 2013 -2024 shows that kangaroos are the most reported mammal species involved in animal strikes across NSW, followed by wallabies, wombats then possums.
- Koalas have the highest number of reported vehicle strikes of all threatened species.
- Transport is proactively collaborating with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water NSW Koala Strategy to identify and prioritise koala vehicle hotspots on existing roads around the state that require intervention.
2024 Wildlife Symposium
- A 2024 Wildlife Symposium brought together experts from Australia and around the world, including ecologists, technology specialists, transport agencies, NGOs, industry leaders, and community members. A summary of the symposium can be found here.
- A summary of the recommendations and government response can be found in the Future Directions Paper here.
