New technologies and ideas have emerged to reduce wildlife road-strike, but councils are hamstrung by limited finances and autonomy, Macedon Ranges Shire Council says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Residents want councils to act more quickly with more resources to do a whole range of things: put in electronic responsive signage, underpasses, overpasses and narrow roads,” chief executive officer Bernie O’Sullivan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In a rate-capping environment, we’ve got a really tight budget. We’re doing what we can, but we need help.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The comments were made during Mr O’Sullivan and manager of engineering and asset services Daniel Grigson’s presentation to the Victorian Parliament’s inquiry into wildlife road-strike at Bendigo last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MRSC urged reforms to give councils more flexibility, more resources and more tools to protect both wildlife and people on roadways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr O’Sullivan said Macedon Ranges had one of the highest wildlife vehicle collision rates in Victoria and the problem was growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Road-strikes in our shire are not only frequent, they’re increasingly dangerous,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“These collisions affect not just wildlife, not just motorists, but also impact the broader community and they are putting increasing pressure on our already stretched wildlife cares and volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Animal strikes now make up about five per cent of all vehicle crashes locally, and disturbingly, Gisborne and Woodend were both named among the top five Victorian hot-spots for wildlife collisions in 2023 (AAMI).”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 2019, Wildlife Victoria has recorded more than 5000 native animals struck by vehicles in the Macedon Ranges \u2014 a figure thought to under-represent the true scale of incidents, as many go unreported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between January last year to June 30 this year, MRSC collected at least 750 animals from council-managed roadsides alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Development and drought were considered two of the biggest contributing factors to animals venturing closer to roadsides as they search for food and areas to relocate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romsey and Gisborne were flagged as the two big growth areas for the Macedon Ranges and where the problem could increase accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr O’Sullivan said council had integrated wildlife strategy and safety into its Mobility and Road Safety Strategy 2023-2032 and was developing Geographic Information System heat maps to target hot-spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, seeking lower speed limits can be a slow process that doesn’t always result in change, and the council wants to see this process reviewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Councils cannot reduce speed limits in wildlife corridors without state department approval, even when local risk is clear and evidence-based, and respectfully, I’d say that is not a fast process,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr O’Sullivan also highlighted new technologies the council was interested to explore and funding gaps that exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Technologies such as responsive signage, crossings and wildlife detection systems, they’re promising but they’re out of reach for many councils without external funding or technical support,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We strongly support greater investment in research infrastructure and shared data platforms that enable better state-wide responses.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One opportunity the MRSC is now considering is mobile variable message flashing signage that can be placed in wildlife corridors to give drivers additional warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MRSC also flagged interest in trialling any new technologies emerging in signage and mapping such as real-time and infrared signage that has proven successful in other parts of the world.
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