Call to use sign for cassowary message
RESIDENTS are bewildered that breast screening reminders are considered more important than cassowary awareness on the electronic signs on the Kuranda Range.
Speewah resident Karen Kaye said she’d been lobbying the Department of Transport and Main Roads to display a message reminding drivers there were cassowaries in the area since Elvis the cassowary was injured in February.
“TMR said they would take it to the next meeting. They got back to me the following week and said the sign could not be used as it was for ‘emergencies only’ and anything other than emergencies would not be displayed as it’s not part of their guidelines.”
She said she was mystified to see a breast-screening reminder on the sign on Wednesday morning.
“It was like a rude slap in the face for me and the cassowaries,” she said.
“I’m not dismissing that breast screening is important to some, but I’m bewildered to know how this gendered issue is an emergency under TMR guidelines.”
Ms Kaye said she questioned why the safety of cassowaries wasn’t considered an emergency in the first place given their declining numbers, especially since the sign was located just 100 metres from where three chicks were killed last year.
“I only asked that they utilise existing infrastructure which is dormant 99 per cent of the time to help protect our much loved and endangered cassowaries.
“It’s a battle for their existence … why is it that TMR has no concern for the welfare of these rare and exotic birds?”
She said it was disheartening that locals had to resort to putting up their own signs which often got taken down.
A Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said there was a statewide procedure that had to be followed on variable message signs (VMS) which usually warned road users of hazards and unexpected conditions.
“We work closely with community groups and government agencies to support cassowary conservation.
“There are several cassowary road signs (black cassowary on a yellow sign) on Kuranda Range Road to ensure motorist awareness.”
Member for Barron River
Craig Crawford said he was in complete support of using the sign to remind drivers of cassowaries on the roads but that ultimately the decision rested with TMR.
“My office and I have been pursuing this issue in relation to concerns raised by locals and are hopeful we can see some more cassowary-centric messaging appear on the electronic sign.
“There is no doubt I deem the endangerment and deaths of cassowaries as an emergency and we need to do what we can to avoid the deaths of these important native animals.”