Fauna management

We are committed to contributing to the sustainability of the natural environment, ensuring communities are connected in a sustainable, thriving, and inclusive Queensland.  

When planning projects, we conduct a thorough environmental assessment. This evaluation identifies any potential dangers to:

• native species, 
• wildlife corridors,
• habitats, and 
• the risk of road-related wildlife fatalities.

These findings with our Fauna Sensitive Transport Infrustructure Delivery Manual provides guidance based on solid research. It gives recommendations for making wildlife-friendly choices when we plan, design, build, run, and maintain roads and railways.

When considering the suitability of fauna friendly infrastructure as a possible mitigation measure, we consider:

• the design needs of the target species
• existing landscape connectivity
• current and future land uses adjacent to the project
• physical design constraints such as topography, geometry, accessibility and drainage
• road safety and funding availability for both construction and ongoing maintenance commitments
• the suitability of alternative mitigation measures such as signage, habitat restoration and reduced speed limits.

We engage with key stakeholders to understand where there are particular high risk locations for animal-vehicle collisions along the existing road network that need to be managed.  

Our initiatives in action

We are committed to protecting and supporting our native wildlife through various fauna management initiatives. Some examples our fauna management measures recently delivered include:

• The launch of 'Koalas on the Move' driver awareness campaign during the 2023 koala breeding season in the Noosa region, in collaboration with the Noosa Biosphere Reserve and other local stakeholders. This campaign played a crucial role in preventing koala fatalities on key roads in the North Coast Region during this sensitive time for the species.
• Increasing the resilience of koala populations by the continuation of a program of koala tagging, monitoring, and research into a koala chlamydia vaccine by the Coomera Connector project in South Coast Region.
• In the South Coast Region, we converted hardwood trees that had been felled for the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road intersection safety project into valuable resources for wildlife. These trees were repurposed into nest boxes for native birds and tree-dwelling mammals, as well as providing a refuge and escape poles for koalas.
• Koala and black breasted button quail habitat restoration by the Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Section D project, including installation of koala exclusion fencing and raised timber rail habitat connectivity structures in Southern Queensland Region.
• To support the endangered mahogany glider, we installed pole crossings over Byabra Creek near Mutarnee. This initiative helps connect habitats for this species and ensures their safe movement in the North Queensland Region.
• Arboreal fauna rope crossing over the 6-lane Bruce Highway near Caboolture to re-connect adjacent native habitat in the North Coast Region.
• The ongoing Big Maria Creek rehabilitation project illustrates our dedication to improving habitats for species such as the cassowary. This project focuses on enhancing connectivity within the Smiths Gap area, also in the North Queensland Region, allowing for safer and more accessible cassowary habitats.

Protecting our native species

Queensland is home to many threatened species that can be present where roads are proposed. The following species are some the of the key threatened species that the department encounters. 

Cassowaries

Under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999, the southern cassowary is listed as endangered nationally, with the Wet Tropics population listed as endangered and the Cape York population listed as vulnerable under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992.

We are aware of the importance of cassowary conservation and have been working with other government agencies and organisations to put into place a framework for cassowary management. The Cassowary Conservation Management Plan better positions us to respond to the management of cassowaries on state-controlled roads in North Queensland. This will be achieved through the development and implementation of best practice in managing cassowary interactions, from project design through to the overarching maintenance of state-controlled roads.

Koalas

Koalas are listed as endangered nationally and under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992.

We are a member of the Koala Advisory Council, working with the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation in the delivery of the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020–2025. As part of this strategy, we have contributed to research and vaccine trials

Frogs

About 40 frog species in Queensland are listed as threatened under state and federal laws. Frogs are especially vulnerable to changes and fragmentation in wetlands and waterways.

To address this, our projects incorporate frog-friendly designs. This includes installing culverts and underpasses that accommodate water flow and allow frogs to move safely. We also use frog fencing to guide frogs towards these safe crossings and away from roads. Additionally, we build ponds to restore and enhance their habitats.

Gliders

Queensland has 3 endangered glider species:

• Yellow-bellied glider
• Mahogany glider
• Greater glider

These animals need to move from tree to tree for their survival. Due to tree removal, it’s becoming harder and more dangerous for them to glide. They’re at risk from predators and traffic when they’re on the ground.

We're working to fix this by building glider poles and canopy bridges that help gliders move safely through the treetops. We're also planting new areas with trees around the structures we've put up to help link their homes back together.