New program to protect koalas on local roads

Published on 20 December 2023

New Vehicle Activated Signage will encourage drivers to slow down and keep an eye out for koalas across Campbelltown as part of a new program aimed at reducing vehicle strikes on local roads.

Working with wildlife organisations such as WIRES and Sydney Wildlife, over the next few months Council will complete an analysis of vehicle speeds and numbers on local roads near to koala habitat to identify hot spots where koalas regularly cross roads.

Vehicle Activated Signs are digital roadside signs that display a message when they are approached by vehicles travelling at a pre-set speed.

Mayor George Greiss said the Koala Vehicle Strike Mitigation program would encourage motorists to slow down in areas where koalas are known to cross roads.

“Koalas are an iconic Australian species and we are fortunate to have a healthy population here in Campbelltown but we know that vehicle strikes are the number one cause of koala deaths in our city,” Dr Greiss said.

“Improving driver awareness in areas where koalas are known to traverse is a key action from Council’s  Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management and an important part of our ongoing Koalatown initiative,” he said.

“By strategically placing signage in areas where we know koalas are regularly on the move, we can encourage drivers to slow down, ensuring both people and wildlife are safer on the road.”

This program will only target local roads managed by Council.

The Koala Vehicle Strike Mitigation program is provided funding from the NSW Koala Strategy.