The Port Macquarie–Hastings region is one of the most important places for koalas in New South Wales - Drive with Care Be Koala Aware.
Three Areas of Regional Koala Significance, Port Macquarie, Crescent Head, and Comboyne, stretching from the fishing village of Dunbogan in the south to the beaches of Crescent Head in the north. These lush coastal floodplains provide ideal koala habitat and support some of the strongest populations in the state. But this importance comes with responsibility.
The impact of roads on koalas
The same flat, fertile floodplains that koalas love are also prized for housing and development. As urban areas expand, koalas are increasingly forced to cross roads in search of food, shelter, and mates – putting them in harm’s way. Koalas are most active at dawn and dusk, which is also when visibility on our roads is lowest. They move quietly and blend into the landscape, making them hard for drivers to spot in time. Sadly, many accidents happen simply because drivers don’t expect to see wildlife crossing the road.
Our Community can make a difference
This summer, Port Macquarie Hastings Council is calling on locals and visitors to Drive with Care – Be Koala Aware. The much-loved campaign encourages everyone on our roads to slow down, stay alert, and take simple actions that could save a life.
We’ll be working with local car hire companies and holiday accommodation providers to share the message with visitors as they arrive in our region, inviting travellers to commit to safe driving and protect our local wildlife.
By taking the pledge, you’re committing to:
When out and about on our roads, ‘Drive with Care.’ Studies show that lower vehicle speeds:
- reduce the incidence of vehicle strike
- reduce the severity of injuries to animals
- increase the likelihood of wildlife surviving the collision
Be sure to notice the warning signs which typically feature a koala against a yellow background, when driving in our region as well as koala zone road surface marking and digital signage. These signs help to reduce the numbers of koalas affected by vehicle strike.
Mobile phones are a modern convenience but create driver distraction on our roads. Keep our wildlife safe by staying off the phone!
Driving while you’re tired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol poses a risk to other drivers as well as our local wildlife. Remember to ‘Drive with Care – Be Koala Aware!’
If you see a sick or injured koala, report it immediately to the Koala Hospital 24 hour Rescue Hotline on (02) 6584 1522.
Take the pledge
To help encourage other drivers to Drive with Care, you can make a pledge via Council’s ConnectEd website and receive your free pledge pack – a bumper sticker, keychain and car air freshener to show your public support for our koalas.
Pledge online or find us at our pop ups, out and about over the koala breeding season.
References:
NSW Government – Department of Environment and Heritage. (n.d.). Fact sheet 3: How to influence driver behaviour. NSW Government. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/
Koala Conservation Australia. (n.d.). Koala Conservation Australia website. https://koalaconservationaustralia.org.au/
