Flaws in a $1 million fence designed to protect one of Australia’s most important populations of koalas could lead to the animals wandering onto the road, wildlife rescuers warn. They claim temporary repairs to one section of the Picton Road fence could easily be breached by the marsupials, which are known to be skilled climbers.
Images supplied to Yahoo News show loose strands of wire and bolts holding a length together, which is understood to have been damaged in a storm. Transport for NSW told Yahoo News its crews will return to carry out further repairs after the Christmas break.
But rescue volunteer Ricardo Lonza is fearful this could be too late — with increased traffic on the road over the holidays, it’s one of the most dangerous times of year for koalas. He is urging for it to be fixed immediately.
Lonza doesn’t believe the temporary repairs are good enough to stop koalas scaling the fence. Source: Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown
Lonza is calling on authorities to redo the temporary repairs now. Source: Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown
Lonza raised concerns about the state of the fence 10 days ago, and crews were dispatched to fix it. While repairs to other sections were completed to a good standard, he’s perplexed they’d leave such a gaping hole in one place.
“You’d think they’d do a better job. This area is where the tree came down. They’ve cleared the tree, but they’d done a bodgie job on the fence,” he told Yahoo News.
“I’m really worried, not far from there I saw a dead swamp wallaby on the side of the road, so animals are getting through the fence. The government just doesn’t seem to care.”
Why is this population of koalas so important?
While many of us will take it easy and spend time with family over the festive season, volunteers like Lonza will be busy attending to dead and injured wildlife.
Koalas in Sydney’s southwest are considered the most important population in NSW — where the species is listed as endangered. That’s because they are free of chlamydia, a bacterial infection thought to have been spread by sheep that causes blindness, infertility and death.
Successive state and federal governments have approved massive housing and road expansions on habitat experts say is important if the population is to expand and the species is to avoid extinction over the next 25 years. As development has continued, vehicle strikes have sharply increased. Since July 2022 at least 101 koalas have been killed on the roads across the region – 48 of them died this year.
Koala fence has troubled history
The koala fence has been problematic since its construction. Yahoo News first alerted the state government to problems with the fence in 2023, after a resident documented its appalling state. Those stretches were patched, but two years on new sections are crumbling. While Transport for NSW maintains the fence is “checked regularly”, locals tell a different story, claiming it’s often left in disrepair for weeks.
After Yahoo News raised questions about the damage to the fence on Saturday, Transport for NSW issued a statement.
“Transport for NSW contractors have completed repairs to multiple sections of the koala fence along Picton Road,” it said. “Crews carried out inspections until the afternoon of Friday 20 December and will return after the Christmas period to carry out further inspections and works, if required.”
Minister for Roads John Graham and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe were contacted for comment.
Love Australia’s weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.