Port Stephens Drive, a safe passage for koalas and other wildlife

Port Stephens Drive was identified as one of the worst koala vehicle strike hotspots in New South Wales, according to a 2019 Transport for NSW analysis of BioNet records.

From 2010 to 2020, there were 89 reported koala incidents along a 4-km stretch of Port Stephens Drive. Located between 2 locally significant koala populations and surrounded by preferred koala habitat, Port Stephens Drive is a key connectivity point for koalas and other animals moving across the landscape.

The NSW Koala Strategy provided over $1.5 million for on-ground works to reduce koala vehicle strikes along Port Stephens Drive. The project team collaborated with Port Stephens Council, Transport for NSW, and community organisations like Port Stephens Koala Hospital and Koala Koalition. They obtained best practice designs and consulted with stakeholders to deliver works that reduced threats and maintained connectivity for koalas.

On-ground works included:

• installation of 4.2 km of new or modified koala-proof fencing along both sides of Port Stephens Drive
• installation of a specifically designed and constructed 20 m long fauna underpass
• installation of koala grids across roads and driveways
• installation of koala connectivity structures such as escape posts and poles.

Since completing the on-ground works in October 2023, motion-activated fauna cameras have been installed in the underpass to monitor wildlife movements. To streamline the monitoring process and reduce resource demands, an Artificial Intelligence program is being trialled to analyse camera images and automatically generate reports. This system has already proven successful, with a koala recorded using the underpass just 3 weeks after project completion, and multiple records of koalas using the structure since.

Excitingly, the dedicated koala underpass benefits not only koalas but also a variety of other native species. So far, eastern grey kangaroos, short-beaked echidnas, brushtail possums and eastern land mullets have all been captured on camera using the underpass.