KOALA MAKES A DEADLY DASH
A BURLEIGH Heads cyclist who snapped a koala scrambling across the Gold Coast Hwy had to stop traffic to ensure its safety.
Joy Marks spotted the koala near Burleigh Heads National Park about 4pm on Wednesday.
She and another cyclist alerted drivers so the koala could make its way across and up a tree around Peggs Rd.
“I could hear a koala on the other side, it was like it was calling the other koala,” she said.
Ms Marks said the photos illustrate the need for animal bridges and underpasses.
“In northern NSW you see crossings where they can get across the motorway. I’d love to see that happen here.
“I actually spoke to the (council) rangers, because they stopped, and they said they have seen quite a few koalas in the Burleigh National Park.
“It looks the koalas are going back and forth to reach food trees.”
Ms Marks said she had seen more koalas on the move during recent rides around Burleigh.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital this year revealed a koala named Tucker had been admitted after he was found trying to cross the highway. In another example, a koala was killed by a car, leaving behind a joey named Gracie.
Last year, the hospital admitted 100 koalas for vehiclerelated incidents and a report to the Gold Coast City Council this year revealed that between 2017-2019 more than 3000 native animals in the city were struck by a vehicle.
Wednesday’s encounter comes after the council flagged a koala bridge for the area.
It would be built between Burleigh Ridge Park and the national park as part of the proposed Stage 4 light rail extension, which will not take shape for several years.
State election candidates for Burleigh backed a fauna bridge during a Bulletin debate on Wednesday night.
Sitting LNP MP Michael Hart said: “An animal overpass is absolutely necessary and something we need to … build as soon as possible.”
Labor opponent Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew said a national park overpass should be built no matter where the light rail route travelled.
Animal Justice Party candidate Scott Wallace said: “There’s already wildlife being killed and interfered with on our roads and we need to be minimising that.”
If you spot a koala sick or in immediate danger phone Wildcare Australia on (07) 5527 2444.