Since 2007, the Department of Transport and the then Warringah Council have funded wildlife exclusion fences along the Wakehurst Parkway.
Initially these fences were in perfect condition. A new tender has been awarded recently for the maintenance of the wildlife exclusion fences.
Subsequent floods down Middle Creek have flattened the fences multiple times.
Trees have fallen on them. Cars have driven through them. The wildlife exclusion fences are in a terrible state of disrepair.
Every time the fences are damaged, wildlife can get onto the road where the wildlife may be injured or killed.
These fences are important. This map marks the swamp wallaby roadkill on the Wakehurst Parkway for 2021 to 2023.
Many other animals such as owls, echidnas, and possums have also been killed.
Wallabies are unpredictable animals and dash out onto the road unexpectedly. Are we prepared to risk a human life from a head-on collision swerving to avoid an animal?
The Wakehurst Parkway wildlife exclusion fences need to be maintained regularly by the road contractors. There needs to be a plan for the temporary repair of fences when they are breached.
The exclusion fence has been flattened near Middle Creek Bridge where a car ran off the road in early February. The earliest the road contractors can repair the fence is 19 May 2023.
The Roadkill Prevention Group have temporarily repaired the fence at personal expense.
When will we see a resolution with the road maintenance contractors for a quick response to repair and maintain the roadkill exclusion fences?
Jacqui Marlow
Northern Beaches Roadkill Prevention Committee
The Northern Beaches Roadkill Prevention Committee aims to reduce roadkill of native animals on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. In 2005, the association was formed to address wildlife roadkill and raise awareness of broader conservation issues on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Jacqueline Marlow
Jacqui has been working on preserving bushland, increasing connectivity and preventing roadkill on the major arterial roads of the Northern Beaches of Sydney since 2001. In 2005 she set up an effective community group that records roadkill on a purpose designed phone app. The resulting long-term records of roadkill on the Northern Beaches of Sydney have been used by the RMS in planning roadkill mitigation for the future upgrade of Mona Vale Road. She holds a Batchelor of Science from Sydney University and is a member of numerous scientific organisations such as the Mammal Society of Australia and is also the author of peer-reviewed articles on roadkill.
This beautiful little baby ringtail is now without mother due to road kill on the Northern Beaches. This has to stop!
Photo: Roadkill Prevention Committee