Wallaby road painting fury

A SOUTHERN Tasmanian community is outraged after a dead wallaby was painted over by a road worker. A resident found the painted roadkill on the Arthur Highway at Copping and said failing to move the animal was the “definition of lazy”.

ROADKILL painted over by a road worker has been labelled the “definition of lazy” and sparked community outrage.

The dead wallaby, which was sprayed on by a government contractor on the Arthur Highway at Copping in the South, was found outside the house of a gobsmacked resident.

The man, who did not wish to be named, posted vision of the roadkill on his Facebook page Lord Of The Lettuce, slamming the “lazy” effort of the road worker who failed to move the animal before spraying the road last month.

The Copping resident told the Mercury roadkill was appearing in high proportions along the residential highway.

“I’m constantly seeing wombats, feral cats and a number of other native species wind up on the side of the road,” he said.

“But I’ve never seen anything like a dead animal being painted over before.”

A Department of State Growth spokesperson said the contractor who failed to move the dead wallaby showed little care.

“It is best practice for the line-marking contractor to inspect the site before any line marking is done, and it is disappointing that this hasn’t happened on this occasion,” the spokesperson said.

“The department will continue to work with the contractor to ensure that all sites are inspected prior to any future work.

“Contact has been made directly by the contractor responsible, who has also expressed their disappointment.”

An estimated 500,000 native animals are killed on the state’s roads each year. Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent said wildlife was prominent across Sorell council roads, particularly at night.

“Drivers seem to be becoming more and more conscious of the active animals on our roads, with a lot seen around Dunalley,” he said.

I really want to point out the absolute callous nature and behaviour, with regard to our native wildlife

— ROBERT CASSIDY

“We encourage all road users to exercise caution at dusk.”

Central Highlands Councillor Robert Cassidy deplored the “callous” act of the road worker who painted over the animal and said roadkill was an issue on central Tasmanian roads.

“I really want to point out the absolute callous nature and behaviour, with regard to our native wildlife,” he said.

“Tasmanian devils are an endangered species, yet within the past few days, along the A5 Highland Lakes Rd, two Tasmanian devils were killed in exactly the same spot.”