Andrea Dawkins MP on tomorrow to move -
That this House notes:
1. That approximately 1 animal every 2 minutes is killed on Tasmanian roads, which equates to at least 300,000 animals annually, including 3,000 Tasmanian devils;
2. That many of these animals are not killed instantly, but critically injured, limping away to die slowly and painfully;
3. That it is the lament of many visitors to the State that they see more deceased animals on the side of the road than living in the wild;
4. That the warmer months are particularly dangerous for wildlife, with drier conditions and increased food availability seeing more animals moving about;
5. That the summer also sees an increase in visitor numbers to the State, bringing about further traffic, additional roadkill, and likewise further lament at the amount of dead wildlife;
6. The successful virtual fencing trials undertaken in the north west of the State, particularly with regard to Tasmanian devils;
7. That the death of approximately 2,000 native animals in 5 years on Sydney’s northern beaches roads resulted in the construction of rope crossings for possums, bridges for wallabies and culverts for bandicoots after public concerns were raised;
8. That wildlife crossings, such as land bridges, are being used around the world in conjunction with fencing in areas which have a high concentration of dead native wildlife;
9. That wildlife crossings have proven to be an effective solution for climbing animals and macropods, especially when the land bridges have the types of foliage growing on them, enticing animals onto the bridge and away from the road;
Further, this House:
Calls on the Minister for Infrastructure, Rene Hidding, to urgently undertake assessment of the impact of road deaths on Tasmania’s wildlife, particularly as a result of the 90% decrease in devil numbers, including a cost analysis of the construction of further fencing solutions and wildlife road crossings.